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Coach our scholars towards their dream!

Starfish Initiative is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk and economically disadvantaged high school students. We assist students of exceptional promise overcome the barriers of poverty and develop cultural capacity and leadership skills that prepare them to graduate from high school and college. Our goal is to "fill empty caps and gowns" by improving graduation rates in Indianapolis.

• Starfish provides intensive one-on-one mentoring and coaching: Each Starfish Scholar is matched with an adult mentor who makes a two year commitment to meet with their Scholar every other week. These mentors serve as a "life or college coach" to keep Scholars working toward achievement of their goals - graduation from high school and from college. Thorough orientation and on-going mentor training enables mentors to form meaningful relationships with Scholars to enhance their success. To download a mentor application please click here, or contact Bob Goodrum, Mentor Services Director, at (317)955-7915 for more information.



• Starfish offers leadership training: Monthly year-round Scholar meetings provide leadership training, presentations by local community leaders, and college access, admission and retention programming. All Scholars are enrolled in the "Congressional Award for Youth." Starfish curriculum includes "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" and Key Service Leader training through Kiwanis International. A partnership with Ambassadors For Children offers an opportunity to change not only the lives of our Scholars but also the lives of children in our global community. During their high school career Starfish Scholars will have an opportunity to travel and participate in a humanitarian volunteer effort in behalf of the world's children. This resume building activity broadens the Scholar's worldview and enables them to be more competitive accessing college scholarships and opportunities.



• Starfish motivates low-income youth and parents to understand that college is an option: As an eighth grade student, each Starfish Scholar meets the income requirements to receive a 21st Century Scholars' Scholarship from the State of Indiana. Starfish develops partnerships with colleges and universities to ensure that students are prepared to take advantage of this scholarship opportunity. We work with the families of our "first generation" college students to understand the commitment involved in completing a four-year college education.

We recruit eighth grade students by working with community centers, churches, private and public schools to identify students with potential to benefit from participation in the Starfish Initiative. Our application process is open to the public, but we are selective in choosing students as "Starfish Scholars."

The Starfish Initiative accepts approximately 50 new Scholars annually. In order to be eligible, applicants must be currently in the eighth grade, have passed ISTEP in their seventh grade year, and be accepted as a Twenty-first Century Scholar. Please call Scholar Coordinator, Beverly Roche, (317) 955-7914, if you have questions regarding your eligibility or to receive a Scholar application.