Built for You

Help from mentors who care about your success in college—and beyond. We believe in your potential.

Become a Starfish Scholar

You’ll have a mentor who cares.
Get matched with a dedicated, college-educated mentor who meets with you regularly, supports your goals, and helps you navigate challenges from high school to your future. They'll become your guiding star, offering encouragement, accountability, and real-life wisdom every step of the way.

You’ll be ready for college.
From applications and financial aid to study skills and time management, you’ll get the tools and knowledge you need to get into college—and succeed once you're there.

You’ll explore future careers.
With your mentor’s guidance and hands-on opportunities, you’ll discover your interests, explore real career paths, and start building a vision for your future.

Here’s What You Need to Know Before Applying

Check to see if you qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.

Set a goal to graduate with at least a 2.5 GPA
That shows us you’re serious about your future, and we’re here to help you reach it.

Plan to keep going after high school
Whether it’s college, career training, or another education program, Starfish helps you take the next step with confidence.

Got questions?
We’ve got answers. Check out the FAQs below, or call us at 317-588-6300. We’re here to help!

Start Your Application Now

Get the Scholar Brochure

What Happens Next?

You and a parent or guardian will complete a short application online. Just follow one of the orange links to get started. It’s quick and easy, and it helps us get to know you and your goals.

If your application moves forward, we’ll invite you to an interview with a member of our Starfish team. It’s a great chance for you to ask questions and share what you’re excited about.

After the interview, our admissions team will carefully review your application. If selected, you and your family will receive an official invitation to join the Starfish Scholar community!

Ready to Lock In With Starfish?

Starfish Initiative isn't just about finding a mentor; it's about unlocking your potential and charting your course to success with you.

Apply Now

Access Mentoring Let's You Stay Engaged While You Explore with Starfish!

You’ve started your Starfish journey by submitting an application; now, Access Mentoring helps you stay connected while you complete the final steps!

Stay Involved. Even before completing registration or orientation, you’ll be invited to Starfish workshops, special events, and enrichment activities.
Learn as You Go. Use this time to discover more about what mentoring looks like at Starfish, meet peers, and begin building momentum.
Transition When You're Ready! Simply finish your registration, paperwork, and orientation, and you’ll move seamlessly into our full mentoring program.

Begin Your Journey Early With Star Seekers

Star Seekers is a pre-mentoring program designed just for 8th graders who are ready to start exploring their path to high school, college, and career success.

Learn and Explore. Through fun workshops, team activities, and creative projects, students begin developing the skills and confidence they’ll need in high school and beyond.

Dream Big. Participants complete engaging assignments like researching a dream career or college, building a personal vision board, creating a high school survival guide, planning a small community service project, or interviewing a professional about their career path.

Get Ready to Grow. These activities help students discover their interests, set goals, and gain real-world experience—all while becoming part of the Starfish community.

Star Seekers participants will still need to apply and complete the orientation process to become full Starfish Scholars. By joining early, students build a strong foundation and prepare for the exciting opportunity to be matched with a mentor once they enter 9th grade.

Start Your Application Now

Scholar FAQs

You can join anytime between 8th and 10/11th grade.
Be committed to graduating from high school, getting into college and graduating from college (we cater to students interested in any post-high school training (trade school, apprenticeships, military, etc.)
Be a first generation student to pursue college after graduation.
Have at least a GPA of 2.5.

All applications are evaluated by an internal admissions committee .

Most 8th graders are introduced to Starfish Initiative through a presentation at their school, often organized by their counselor. Our team visits the majority of Marion County middle schools each year to share information about the program and how to apply.

Students who miss a school presentation can also connect with us at community events and information sessions held throughout the year. These opportunities allow families to learn more about Starfish, ask questions, and start the application process.

Ready to take the next step? Apply here!

Please, tell us!

Sometimes we do hear from a Scholar, or a Mentor, that they believe a match is not working out. Usually, there has been a miscommunication from someone, or the Scholar might feel insecure and unsure of how to act with this new adult in their life.

Your Scholar Specialist will help get to the bottom of anything you might think is going on, help you clear anything up, and move ahead.

In very rare cases, a match really doesn’t work out. In those few cases, we make another match.

The vast majority of our matches last all four years of high school and the Mentor and Scholar continue to communicate well into college. But it’s true that sometimes Mentors move away because of a job offer, or (after their two-year initial commitment is complete) they may decide to volunteer in the community in another way.

The bottom line is that, as long as a Scholar works hard on his or her grades and stays in the Starfish program, we’ll work hard to make sure they have a great match.