Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Imagine having a trusted guide by your side as you approach a significant unknown in your life. That is what hundreds of juniors and seniors in the Collegiate Challenge program have experienced in Spring Branch ISD for the last 24 years.

The program is open to high-achieving students who are motivated to attend college but may not have assistance at home to help achieve this goal.

“We have great students who want to further their education,” said Steve Schlabach, lead counselor at Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS). “They have questions and need someone who can give them honest and helpful feedback. Many are the first in their family to go to college.”

Exploring the possibilities

Each year, under the leadership of high school counselors, mentors are matched with juniors to begin exploring career options and the colleges that align with those dreams.

“Our students are eager to explore all of the options available to them after high school,” said Kelly Kretschmar, post-secondary counselor at Northbrook High School (NHS). “They are sometimes overwhelmed by the opportunities available to them and grateful for the support they can get as they figure out the best plan for their future.”

Starting in the spring semester of the junior year, counselors provide mentors with a framework to help students get a big picture of which majors support various career goals. From this, the students and their mentors develop a list of colleges to apply to in the fall of senior year. Getting a better understanding of the ways personality traits compliment various career opportunities is also something the mentors assist the students to discover.

“Students find the relationships they form with mentors a unique and helpful experience,” said Jose Garcia, counselor at SWHS. “They feel empowered and lose the inhibitions that keep them from believing college is within reach.”

For the students in Collegiate Challenge, the fall semester of their senior year involves writing and editing admission essays and completing college and financial aid applications. This all happens with the  help of their mentors. Mentors often provide relevant letters of recommendation about the character and work ethic of their mentees.

WAIS senior, Jessica G., said her mentor has helped her get a better understanding of the college and financial aid processes. “My motivation to participate in the program was due to the additional help I would be getting in order to achieve my academic goals,” she said. “The college I am considering is Texas A & M to major in Architecture.”

This time of year, excitement builds as Collegiate Challenge seniors receive college acceptance notices and continue to submit financial assistance applications. It is rewarding to the mentors when their mentees share the joyful results of their hard work and collaboration.

Ms. Kretschmar said, “No one’s journey is a perfect straight line, but we’re always so happy for [our students] when they reach their goals in the end.”

A desire to help the next generation

Adults who become Collegiate Challenge mentors can be assured their advising does not occur in a vacuum. The expertise of the counselors leading the programs is invaluable to the mentors and students. Many mentors are recent college graduates just starting their careers or are parents who have assisted their own children with the application processes.

“Mentors should be knowledgeable of the intricacies involved in the transition from high school to college, including the various application platforms, financial aid, required tests, among others,” said Garcia.

Having a mentor to guide a student through each step in the college-going process is such a gift. Mentors want to give back and share their experiences of applying to and attending college with their mentees.

“Students should realize that these mentors do this for free and give of their time because they want to help the next generation,” said Schlabach.

The program organizers appreciate the dedicated mentors who carve out time in their daily responsibilities to assist students.

“I feel most rewarded when a mentor's time, exerted energy and guidance are appreciated and valued by the student [with whom they are matched],” said Garcia.

Long beyond high school graduation

Relationships developed between Collegiate Challenge mentors and mentees often last long beyond high school graduation.

Collegiate Challenge mentors report being invited by their former mentees to college graduation ceremonies, writing character references for graduate school or employment applications and even attending weddings.

“This program can change the trajectory of a student’s life, and the life of their family,” said Schlabach. “Over the years, I have had several siblings come through the program because the older sibling understands how important and helpful this program was for them and wants the younger sibling to have the same experience.”

If you would like to “change the trajectory of a student’s life,” and become a Collegiate Challenge mentor, please contact mentor@springbranchisd.com.