St. Johns County students heading back to school this fall have a path to a free college education, and it starts with a volunteer willing to show up.

INK! St. Johns, the county's public education foundation, released Episode 23 of The INK! Podcast on Aug. 20, focused on how volunteer mentors are changing lives through the Take Stock in Children program. Hosts Ian MacDonald and Jim Wheeler explore how the program pairs middle and high school students with adult mentors who meet with them regularly through graduation.

Students who complete the program earn a Florida Prepaid college scholarship.

25 Years, 21 New Graduates: A Milestone Class

Take Stock in Children targets low-income, at-risk students across St. Johns County, according to INK!'s program page. Beyond mentorship, participants receive college and career readiness support throughout their enrollment.

The program hit a milestone this spring. The Take Stock in Children Class of 2026 included 21 seniors heading to higher education, marking the 25th anniversary of the program's first graduate in St. Johns County, according to the St. Augustine Record.

INK!'s Instagram account on Aug. 21 congratulated four Take Stock alumni by name: Jessica, Ameer, Harley and Jaiwan, celebrating their college graduations.

No Teaching Background Required to Mentor

INK! said in its podcast announcement that prospective mentors need only be willing to listen, encourage and invest time in a young person. No teaching or counseling background is required.

Executive director Cathy Newman appeared on the previous episode, released July 29, where she discussed a year of impact across INK!'s programs serving more than 52,000 students and approximately 3,200 teachers countywide.

A Statewide Scholarship Expansion Adds More Opportunities

Take Stock in Children also operates at the state level. On July 7, the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and Florida Power & Light (FPL) announced an expansion of the Path to Prosperity Scholarship Program, delivering 2,000 college scholarships worth more than $14 million for students in Florida's highest-poverty communities. Take Stock in Children is one of the partner organizations identifying students and providing mentoring support. Those scholarships can be used at Florida public colleges, universities and vocational institutions.

How to Get Involved as a Mentor

Residents interested in becoming a Take Stock in Children mentor can learn more and apply at ink-stjohns.org/get-involved/mentor. Episode 23 is available on Spotify.

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