Foster Youth Mentor Gains New Appreciation for Student Experience

From UC News:

Foster Youth Mentor Gains New Appreciation for Student Experience

UC’s Higher Education Mentoring Initiative (HEMI) matches high school students with mentors who can help them reach their goal of post-secondary education - including many of UC’s own faculty and staff.

Date: 12/7/2012 1:00:00 PM
By: Tim Russell
Phone: (513) 556-1330

Take a look around the campus of the University of Cincinnati, and chances are, you’ll find a number of students, faculty and staff who are going the extra mile – either to make their own dreams come true, or to help someone else achieve theirs.

As the program coordinator of UC’s Higher Education Mentoring Initiative* (HEMI), Annie Schellinger sees both ends of the spectrum. Along with a number of other dedicated staff and faculty at CECH, Annie oversees the critical initiative that matches mentors as well as other academic resources with foster children who desire post-secondary education.

Annie Schellinger

“Foster care children face a particularly daunting set of challenges to obtaining higher education,” Schellinger says. “For instance, there isn’t a system in place to tell a student, ‘It’s time to take the ACT. Here’s how to apply for scholarships. This is how to be successful in college.’ So our program helps to give them someone who can guide them in the right direction and combat those barriers.”

Make a gift to HEMI and help strengthen the program today.

And low graduation rates are just one challenge facing foster children, pointing to the immense need for a program that helps make their transition easier. In fact, according to the 2004 Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care:

• 25 percent of foster youth are incarcerated within the first two years of emancipation;

• 20 percent struggle with homelessness;

• And foster youth have disproportionately high rates of early pregnancy, are more prone to sexual and physical victimization, mental illness and substance abuse.

To help create a better environment for success, foster youth in Hamilton County are invited by case workers to participate in HEMI during their junior year of high school. They are matched with a specially trained, adult volunteer who has made a six-year commitment to help guide their youth during this critical time. While mentors come from all walks of life, a number of UC employees have stepped forward to volunteer their time and help assist with guidance and support.

Transfer Student & Graduate Says There's a Place for Everyone at UC

From UC News:

Transfer Student/Graduate Says There’s A Place For Everyone At UC

An injury first led to Kara Mate’s transfer to UC, but she says her discoveries in and out of the classroom are what kept her on her pathway to graduation.

Date: 11/29/2012
By: Dawn Fuller
Phone: (513) 556-1823
Photos By: Dottie Stover

Kara Mate is launching a career in service after the University of Cincinnati Commencement Ceremony on Dec. 15. Mate, a 22-year-old resident of Hamilton, is graduating from the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) with a bachelor’s degree (BS) in psychology. After Commencement, she plans to join the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) in Perry Point, Md., to provide service to communities throughout that region.

Kara Mate

A graduate of Madeira High School, Mate says she transferred to UC after an ACL injury caused her to give up a ROTC scholarship to another university, but she adds that her exploration of UC’s student organizations built her campus connections that kept her here. She joins the increasing number of students who are transferring to the “Hottest College in America.”

Last fall, UC reported 1,970 new, undergraduate transfer students, which was up 16.8 percent from autumn 2011. Lisa Holstrom, director of the UC Transfer and Lifelong Learning Center, attributes the growing numbers of transfer students to a reenergized campus.  “Students are more aware that something exciting is happening at UC, whether it’s our quality academics, exciting athletics events or services to students, including our new veterans center and military-friendly rating,”says Holstrom.

(From left) Kim Fulbright (Women's Ctr.), Kara Mate, Rebecca Lehman (Women's Ctr.)

Mate says outside the classroom, she found a home at UC through her involvement with the university’s student organizations, which number more than 300. During her junior year at UC, she was a participant in the UC Women’s Center program, Activists Coming Together (ACT), a year-long program to build feminist activists and leaders. Students must apply for acceptance into the program.

Last year, she participated in the V-Day University of Cincinnati presentation of the award-winning play, “The Vagina Monologues,” as part of a UC Women’s Center sponsored  fundraiser to end violence against women and girls. The play is presented around Valentine’s Day as part of the global anti-violencre movement called V-Day. “It’s an empowering cause for women around the world, and I truly believe in the message,” says Mate. “This year, the UC Women’s Center will be participating in the One Billion Rising campaign, marking the 15th anniversary worldwide of V-Day activities. It’s an amazing opportunity for women and men to get involved.”

Last summer, she was among the inaugural students who participated in an intensive, week-long retreat under the Racial Awareness Program (RAPP), called Accelerating Racial Justice. The program strives to build students’ understanding of racial justice and inclusive leadership.

“Kara is a great model for transfer students as well as students who began at UC,” says Rebecca Lehman, program coordinator for RAPP. “Transfer students have a different orientation experience, they aren’t as likely to have a learning community experience, and they can often feel disconnected from the wealth of co-curricular experiences that UC offers. By getting involved, Kara exemplified the spirit and power of integrated learning.”



Mate is also among UC’s first students in five decades to graduate under a semester calendaring system, which took effect in the fall, as UC joined other Ohio public universities in converting to semesters in accordance with the University System of Ohio’s strategic plan for higher education. “I think semesters establish a stronger connection with our classes and professors than academic quarters, simply because we have more time together. I enjoyed it,” she says.

She says that moving to Maryland will be a big step. The longest that she has been away from home was after she worked for a couple of months for a non-profit organization in San Diego. However, she says she’s looking forward to the challenge.

“The people I’ve met through the UC Women’s Center and RAPP really opened up my eyes to the UC community and showed me that there is a place here for everyone. I think that’s the big discovery that I’ll be taking with me,” says Mate.

“Everyone is scared when they first come to college, but they’re not alone. Everyone here is searching for who they are and what they want to do. I’m not sure what I’m going to be yet, but that’s not such a bad thing,” she says.

UC Women’s Center

Racial Awareness Program (RAPP)
Student Organizations and Leadership Development

Proudly Cincinnati – Transforming Student Lives

Volunteer for Sustainability at Bengals Tailgate - Dec 9th!

From UC Sustainability:

Volunteer Opportunity: Bengals Tailgate

Cincinnati’s Office of Environmental Quality has partnered with Rumpke Recycling and the Cincinnati Bengals to conduct recycling in key fan tailgating areas.

Volunteers are needed to help with this effort between 10am and 4pm on Sunday, December 9^th.  Volunteers will help hand out recycling bags, administer recycling stations, and tour the lot aisles to accept recyclables.

Please email christian.huelsman@cincinnati-oh.gov for more information.

 

 

GLSEN Greater Cincinnati Hiring Youth Group Facilitator

From GLSEN Greater Cincinnati:

One of our two current Youth Group facilitators is moving, and we're filling the open position.

The GLSEN Greater Cincinnati Youth Group meets weekly on Sundays from 3:00-5:30pm. The Youth Group is a weekly structured meeting for LGBTQ high school age students and allies who wish to come together in a fun, safe, educational and supportive environment. The commitment is approximately 6 hours per week. 3.5 hrs/week would be spent co-facilitating the Youth Group Meeting and 2.5 hrs/week planning, reporting on and supporting Youth Group activities.

Interested candidates should send a resume and a cover letter to Jeremy Johnson at Jeremy@glsencincinnati.org by the close of Tuesday, December 11th, 2012.

Please see the full job description at http://www.glsencincinnati.org/jobs and pass this link on to anyone you know who may be interested in applying.

 

UC African Students Association Last Meeting of the Semester - Dec 7th!

From UC African Students Association:

We have another meeting this Friday Dec. 7th 2012 at 4 pm in swift 816. This will be our last general body meeting of the semester.

We will continue planning for the culture show in our desired committees. 

we will also be playing some games towards the end. I know finals are near so you can take this opportunity to relax and take your mind off the books.

hope to see you all there

--
Regards,
Ijea Ibezue

UC Kwanzaa Event by UBSA - Dec

From the United Black Student Association:

UBSA's annual Kwanzaa Celebration will take place December 6th, 2012 at 6PM, in Stratford Heights. 

To RSVP, email ubsa.uc@gmail.com

Extended Langsam Library & NightRide Hours

From Undergraduate Student Government:

Student Government has partnered with Langsam Library in order to offer late-night library hours and safe transportation options during the next two weeks.

Langsam Library has extended hours, December 2-14.

The extended hours are:

Sun, Dec. 2: Noon-2am
Mon-Tues, Dec. 3-4: 7:45am-2am
Wed-Thurs, Dec. 5-6: 7:45am-11pm
Fri, Dec. 7: 7:45am-7pm
Sat, Dec. 8: 10am-7pm
Sun, Dec. 9: noon-2am
Mon-Tues, Dec. 10-11: 7:45am-2am
Wed-Thurs, Dec. 12-13: 7:45am-11pm
Fri, Dec. 14: 8am-6pm

UCit@Langsam, located on the 5th floor of Langsam Library, is always open 24/7.

Need a safe ride home after studying late in the library?  NightRide will run 8pm-4am, December 2-14, making rounds to pick up students at the base of the Langsam/ERC steps on Woodside Drive.

NightRide can be reached at 556-RIDE (or at 556-1111 (Public Safety) 12am-4am, Sunday-Wednesday; and 2am-4am, Thursday-Saturday).

In addition, the Woodside Drive/Library Garage has been designated a Safe Zone parking garage, which means that from December 2-14, those who enter the garage between the hours of 9pm to 5:59am can exit for $1.

Good luck on exams & have a safe and enjoyable winter break!