TSIC Alum Cody Wolfgang Fenech's Success Story

Dear Anne Everly, Steve Primus, TSIC Foundation, and affiliates

It’s almost funny how children think about the world. They look at the world as a place of possibility, wonder, and excitement. It is not to say that their lives are without strife, but to them, the future is in the palm of their hand. Ironically, a child that puts an adequate amount of thought into their future is seldom found. They do not worry about finances, about job applications, about grade point averages. This ideology seems to be carried on for much of their teenage years, until these dilemmas are knocking on their door.

This is how many of my peers and I felt about the future until we had reached our junior or senior years. For me, it had been apparent for much of my life, that my family was not a family of privilege, wealth, or social connections. I had been without a father for much of my childhood, and my mother worked low paying jobs just to keep a roof over our heads and the bills paid. I had never felt unlucky however. My mother had raised me the best she could, and had always shown me that she loved me more than any parent could.

Love, unfortunately, cannot pay college tuition.

That is where TSIC came in. In the 9^th grade I wrote an essay, as did hundreds of other students, to apply for the TSIC scholarship. As a 14 year old, I didn’t observe much of what was going on, and didn’t give much heed to the ensuing events that came after I submitted my essay. Sometime after, my family was invited to a ceremony at the Viera Stadium. As my mother read the invitation, her face lit up with joy, and I could have sworn I saw the beginning of tears well in her eyes. She turned to me, a grin spreading across her face. She explained the best she could the amazing opportunity I just received, but of course, being a child I merely thought, “That’s cool”. Over the ensuing years however, it became abundantly clear what a blessing that the TSIC scholarship truly was.

I was introduced to mentors and coaches, and compassionate people that empathized with what I was going through, before I even knew myself.
This letter is to those people like Anne Everly, Steve Primus, and the kind of people that looked at poverty level kids that had no chance of a real future and said “No, everyone deserves a chance.”

You were there for me when I stumbled; you guided me when I didn’t know where to go. You gave me the sort of advantage that helped me overcome the adversity that I was gifted with since birth.

I will be frank with you, in high school I had become a mediocre student, but you wouldn’t have any of that! My grades, my study habits, and my over support improved. My GPA rose from 2.5 to 2.7 to 2.9 until I graduated in 2011 with a GPA of 3.1. It was at that moment I really began to gain some retrospect. As I clasped my hand around that diploma, giving Principal Cool a firm handshake with the other, I looked back at the road I was headed down, and the future that would have been in store for me if I had not received this scholarship.

I became truly determined to reach the peak of potential that I had after receiving this scholarship. As of today, 10/2/2012, I am majoring in Computer Science as a full-time student at Brevard Community College, maintaining a GPA of 3.5+, and have made the Dean’s List every semester. I work part-time at a call center, while simultaneously taking care of my aging grandmother and mother. To this day I continue to work harder to raise my GPA, to achieve within my job, and to reach the level of responsibility that signifies true adulthood.

While my achievements may not equate to moving mountains, I feel that the difference between what I have achieved, and what I would have achieved is enormous. I can do nothing but sincerely thank those that work at the TSIC foundation. You have given me the means to go to college, to get an education, and truly make something of myself.

So those who doubt the effectiveness of this program, or the impact on the community; I implore you to take a step back for a moment, and just observe the impact on an individual level.

This foundation is one of the few that I have seen whose objective is truly altruistic. To educate children so that they may improve not only their lives, but the lives of those around them. With more education, communities will improve, counties, states and so on. As I finish up my education, and receive employment in my field, be assured I will never forget how TSIC, its scholarships, and more importantly how its volunteers have changed my life. Furthermore, you can bet I will be back soon enough, to become one of those volunteers, or those donors; ready to help a child such as myself one day, because I truly know what a difference it has made.

With tears in my eyes, I can only say again; thank you. Thank you with all of my heart, for not only giving me a future, but restoring part of the child-like outlook, because I have learned now what many adults have lost as they grow older; The future is a place of possibility, wonder, and excitement. You just have to go out there, and make it happen.

TSIC recipient,

Cody Wolfgang Fenech

TSIC Alum Ha Tran's Story of Success

As one of the inaugural Take Stock In Children Leaders 4 Life Fellows, Ha Tran is currently attending Duke University, where she is pursuing a Neuroscience major and a Global Health minor. With her passion for international health care, Ha hopes to serve the global community as a medical physician in the future. As a proud 2011 graduate of Pace High School, Ha reflects back on her Take Stock In Children experience and attributes much of her success to her mentors and her TSIC family. 

When Ha was 3 years old, her family immigrated to the United States from Vietnam when her father was awarded the prestigious Fulbright scholarship. Through the journey, Ha discovered that education has the power to change lives. She witnessed her parents work 18-hour days to be able to stay in this country, where they knew Ha and her older sister would be able to get a quality education. For Ha's family, education was the key to a better life and the opportunity to get an education was one to be treasured. 

At Duke, Ha is kept busy with classes and her independent research project on the effects of stress on hippocampal and hypothalamic neurogenesis. She also works as a Vietnamese translator, volunteers at the Duke Hospital, and serves as editor for an undergraduate research journal. In her spare time, Ha enjoys having late-night conversations with her friends as they try to navigate their early 20's together and find answers to life's greatest questions. Ha's experiences outside the classroom have shown her that education is not only limited to a textbook, but rather the opportunity to learn is in every country, every experience, and every new conversation.

Mentor Spotlight

Mentor Spotlight: Zabrina PentonZabrina Penton is a wife, mother, career woman, and mentor. She chose to become a Take Stock in Children mentor for the Volusia County program because she felt that it was a great way of helping students stay focused in school and succeed in a career. She also found it to be a great way of giving back to the community. Zabrina and her family say it is very important to be involved in the community by making a positive impact on childrens’ lives. One of the main things that attracted Zabrina to mentoring for Take Stock in Children was that she knew firsthand the importance of going to college and earning a degree. Click here to read the full story. As a mentor,  Zabrina says, not only is she able to develop a great relationship with her mentee, Tomaree, but she earns a valuable life experience through helping her mentee get one step closer to achieving her academic goals. As a TSIC scholar, Tomaree will have the opportunity to get a scholarship that will help pay for college as well as the fact that it will open doors for her future personally and professionally. As someone who was once a student herself, Zabrina can relate to her mentee. She knows how overwhelming the process of choosing the right college and career can be. Zabrina remembers when she was in high school and wanted to be a doctor or an architect. But in the end, she graduated with a degree in civil engineering. Zabrina had a high school teacher who was like a mentor, not only for her, but for numerous students. This teacher helped with the process of applying for college and learning about different career opportunities, also making them aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Zabrina will never forget how helpful it was to have somebody available and able to answer all the questions. 

Zabrina and her husband, Demian, have resided in Deland, FL for the last seven years. Zabrina and her husband have two children: Marco (5) and Victoria (10 months). Marco is in kindergarten and practices martial arts. Victoria is a very happy and active baby. Her husband works as an independent Financial Adviser, and Zabrina works for The State of Florida’s Department of Transportation as a Traffic Professional Engineer. They enjoy going camping, bike riding, running, walking, and traveling as a family.

TSIC Alum Stephen Helwig's Story



TSIC Alum Stephen Helwig

Take Stock in Children Director of Alumni Affairs, Kevin Bulger, recently had the opportunity to speak with TSIC alum Stephen Helwig. Stephen’s story is an excellent example of how TSIC continues to shape lives. Read the full interview below:

 

Take Stock: Can you tell us a little bit about your background? Where did you grow up? Where did you go to college and what did you study?

 

Stephen Helwig: I was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States when I was eight years old. Until 7th grade I lived in Boynton Beach, just south of West Palm. At the start of 7th grade my family moved to Palm Bay, FL and I attended Covenant Christian School. Eventually I switched to West Shore Junior/Senior High School in my sophomore year. I received the Take Stock in Children scholarship in the 11^th grade. At first I did not receive a mentor, but I was very fortunate to be matched with one during my senior year.

I attended Brevard Community College (BCC) and received my AA degree; afterwards I moved to Orlando and attended the University of Central Florida (UCF). In 2007 I got my bachelors degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) from UCF.

 

TS: What has been your career path after college? Can you tell us about your current job?

 

SH: After I moved to Orlando in 2006 to finish my college degree, I began looking for internships and entry level positions before I finished my college coursework. I was fortunate enough to have a friend who was interning at Siemens, which is an international electronics and electrical engineering firm with their Energy Division US headquarters in Orlando. He told me that Siemens was looking for student interns with MIS majors, and, with his help, I was able to secure an internship there, which later turned into a full time position.

In total, I worked at Siemens for 6 years and made my way up the ladder to become a Level 2 IT Architect. However, the farther I moved up the chain at Siemens the less they asked their employees to develop their technical skills, which was a skill set I still wanted to develop. I also wanted to transition from internal IT support, to working on a product that was a revenue stream for the company. This led me to accept my current position as IT Architect at Silverpop, which is based in Atlanta, GA. At Silverpop, I get the opportunity to further expand my technical skills building an email marketing solution using cutting edge cloud and web technologies.

 

TS: When did you first become involved in Take Stock in Children?

 

SH: My guidance counselor at West Shore actually brought it to my attention during an English class. At first I brushed it off and didn’t pay any attention to her. But she persisted, called my family, and eventually I was forced to sign up. A year later I found out that I received this scholarship.

 

TS: Who was your mentor? Can you talk about your relationship with your mentor?

 

SH: Dyer Matlock was my mentor. In the beginning, I wasn’t paired with a mentor, and, at first, I didn’t think I needed a mentor because I thought only the kids who got into trouble got mentors. I was never a kid who got into trouble. But, in my senior year, I was paired with Dyer who has become a lifelong friend and role model for me. In the beginning, we met once a week and after high school graduation we would work on cars together and do woodworking together. Over time he became like a family member to me and we still talk regularly over the phone. In fact, he and his wife are planning to make a visit to Atlanta to see me and my wife. We’re looking forward to their visit!

 

TS: Would you say Take Stock in Children impacted your life? How so?

 

SH: Take Stock in Children impacted my life in many different facets. First, Take Stock introduced me to Dyer, who as I mentioned, is someone who I will be friends with for the rest of our lives. Second, the scholarship got me on track to obtain a degree and not get burdened by student debt. I only had to take out loans to pay for my living expenses while at UCF, which was very minimal. This investment also had a great impact on my family because with my college tuition paid for, it allowed my mother to help afford my brother’s college expenses. In the end we were both able to get jobs and improve our family’s future prospects.

Take Stock congratulates Stephen on all of his accomplishments, as he stands as a real role model for current TSIC students!

TSIC Alumna Crystal Chapman-Lambert Delivers Commencement Address at USF

Take Stock In Children Alumna and University of South Florida College of Nursing BS-PhD student, Crystal L. Chapman-Lambert, MS, FNP-BC, ACRN, AAHIVS, delivered the commencement address to more than 730 graduates and their friends and family during the student address at the USF Commencement Ceremony on May 4, 2013. 

Crystal graduated from USF with her BSN and just finished this semester with her BS-PhD in Nursing.  We are so very proud of Crystal’s accomplishments and how she has demonstrated that, with hard work and dedication, you can do anything that you put your mind to. Kristy Scott, Take Stock In Children’s Marketing Manager, had the opportunity to interview Crystal about her experience as a Take Stock scholar, and this is what she had to say:

What Take Stock in Children program did you graduate from?

Sarasota County, I received the scholarship in 7th grade and graduated from Sarasota High School in 2002.

Who was your mentor? Can you provide some details of that mentor relationship?

Bonnie and Jack Harrison. Bonnie is a retired nurse and Jack is a Pulitzer Prize winner and retired Vice President of the New York Times Company. The Harrisons came into my life during my 10th grade year. After three mentors, I really did not want to open up to another mentor, but now they will not go away (this is just a joke). They are not only my mentors, they have become my family. I can call them to say hello or whenever I need advice. Even to this day – 12 years later, we have conversations at least once a month and they are always there for me.

Do you think mentoring is an important factor in the TSIC program?

The financial award from the TSIC program is great, but the mentorship is priceless. I know that my family is interested in my success, but to have strangers take a vested interested in my success gave me extra motivation plus invaluable advice, perspective and guidance.

What are your aspirations after receiving your PhD?

I have so many opportunities. My dream is to educate the next generation of nurses and nurse practitioners, conduct research that advances the science of nursing and improves healthcare outcomes, and manage the healthcare needs of individuals infected with HIV.

What were your biggest obstacles graduating high school and how did you overcome them?

My biggest obstacle graduating from high school was staying motivated. "Senioritis" is not a myth but it is just a state of mind that many seniors must overcome to succeed. During my senior year, I only needed two courses to graduate so that left me unmotivated to attend classes. My mentors just kept me going and kept reminding me my whole world would open up soon as I entered college - they were right! I had help overcoming my obstacles. My mother and my mentors constantly encouraged me to continue.

What is advice would you give to other TSIC students? 

I would tell TSIC students to set goals, short and long term, and take steps to accomplish those goals. Also, I would tell them failure is a normal part of success. Do not be afraid to fail, but be afraid of giving up!

TSIC Alumna Samantha Hartman's Story of Success

Samantha Hartman, a 2005 alumna from the Take Stock in Children Polk County Program, doesn't let obstacles get in the way of achieving her goals. Diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma (a soft tissue cancer found in her left foot) in middle school, Samantha underwent two chemo treatments and two surgeries. Cancer was just one of the many obstacles Samantha had to conquer to achieve her academic goals. Her parents advised her when she was in 10th grade that if she wanted to attend college, she would need to find a way to pay for it. 

 Through her involvement with the Take Stock in Children program in Polk County, serious academic study, and the support of her mentor and program director Theresa Choquette, Samantha was able to graduate from college without any student loans. After college, Samantha participated in a yearlong fellowship with the John Jay Institute in Philadelphia, PA. Currently, Samantha is the legislative aide for Senator Kelli Stargel (R) of Lakeland in the Florida Senate. Paying it forward, this young alumna mentors a group of four 10th grade students through her church sharing her time and wisdom to build a solid support network. Her future aspirations include teaching college classes, becoming a school principal and being involved in education policy. 

 Her advice to other students in the Take Stock in Children program is a favorite quote from Thomas Edison -- "Many people miss 'opportunity' because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work." Samantha adds, "Be a hard worker, not so others will notice you, but so that you are a person of integrity and character."

Teacher's Appreciation Tribute

So in case you were not aware, last week was Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week.  I wrote a specific piece about one of my favorite teachers that I would like to share with you.

Since it is Teacher and Staff appreciation week, I decided to share a write up of a teacher that helped me while I was in elementary school.  For my fifth grade year because we moved, I had the option of going to the neighborhood school or finishing off at my current elementary school.  I didn't really like going to the other side of town for school and wanted a change so my parents allowed me to go to the school nearby.  

My fifth grade year was exciting because it was my last year in elementary school before I went to middle school.  The year started off great, I made a few new friends and even got elected to be on the school newspaper.  Then as the school year went forward, there was a shift of how I was received by my peers.  Because I really didn't know how to handle rejection, when things hurt my feelings I would cry.  This behavior made me a target for getting picked on.  One day my teacher brought to my attention that I needed to learn how to take some responsibility in my altercations\instead of always playing the victim role.  She would point out to me how my attitude affected the way others would treat me, but more importantly was the portrayal of how I felt about myself.  Mrs. Jones inspired me to push myself and to take chances.  It was because of her that I participated in the black history month program where I played the part of Harriet Tubman (Improv) and it was also because of her that I got my act together and pulled all my grades up.

 

There have been many great teachers in my lifetime, but Mrs. Jones is one that will always be the one that goes down in my teacher’s hall of fame.