ASPIRE program beats the budget ax

Over the past five years, an untold number of Sisters High School graduates went on to pursue higher education as a direct result of the ASPIRE program.

Despite its success, the program did not survive aggressive school budget cuts earlier this year. However, thanks to the impassioned efforts of its supporters, ASPIRE is back again this year after all, and more than 30 volunteers are mobilizing once again to help students make their post-high-school dreams a reality.

"When it became clear that ASPIRE was receiving the ax, volunteers met with Superintendent Jim Golden in protest," says the program's coordinator Susanna Harrison. "I am touched and invigorated by the people who stepped forward to save the program."

Through creativity and determination, the group accessed grant monies to keep Harrison at the ASPIRE helm part-time.

"It is a perfect example of grass-roots energies organizing to save what has been a very fruitful program for the district," she says.

Just ask any ASPIRE volunteer, and you'll hear success stories, says Harrison.

"For any one of us, there are stories about the students who would not have pursued a college degree if that ASPIRE volunteer hadn't provided the encouragement to fill out the applications and untangle the financial aid maze.

"I had a student last year who had a rough start to his high-school years and didn't think that his future looked very bright - even though he had cleaned up his act and hoped to go to college. Since he qualified as a homeless student, we were able to access federal financial aid to help him attend school. I recently heard that he is very happy and thriving at college."

Diane Russell recently joined the ranks as an ASPIRE volunteer. She moved to the area in 2007 following a career in university administration - most recently at University of California, Davis. There, she implemented programs to assist first-year students transitioning to university life.

"When I learned about the ASPIRE program, I was very impressed," says Russell. She jumped in with both feet last January.

"We develop a rapport with the students. Because of the encouragement they receive, they see other possibilities. This program is stellar. It is a state program, but the way it's implemented at our high school, because of Susanna Harrison, is really outstanding."

All Sisters High School junior and seniors - including those who might normally fall through the cracks - are on ASPIRE's radar. Where the school's counseling department leaves off, ASPIRE (Access to Student Resource Assistance in Reach of Everyone) picks up: each volunteer mentor tracks a handful of kids to ensure that they have a post-high-school plan in place upon graduation.

"Some volunteers have been meeting with students for over six years!" says Harrison.

Still, she recruits annually to replace volunteers who have relocated out of the area or added conflicting job responsibilities.

Right now is a perfect time for interested folks in the community to come check into volunteering.

"One reason we retain volunteers for so long is that they have the prerogative of working around their own schedule."

Meetings with students can take place anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The main requirement, says Susanna, is "a desire to help young people." Since ASPIRE has ten years under its belt at the state level, there are plenty of supportive resources to ensure its success.

"I have volunteers with extensive backgrounds in academia. Still, some of my most effective volunteers don't have a college degree."

For them, says Harrison, talking to kids about how they might have done things differently themselves is rewarding.

Mentoring is individualized; college is "not the only option for future education that we discuss with the students. ASPIRE can help mentors find the answers for students regarding vocational schools and gap years as well.

"We don't always have the answers, but we know how to access the information that could make the difference in a student's future," Harrison said. "I think the greatest value of ASPIRE to our community is the chance to work with young people, one-on-one, and really make a difference."

Harrison invites anyone interested to attend an orientation on Thursday, October 27, from 3 to 4 p.m., in the SHS Library. Or call Susanna Harrison at 541-549-3203 to set up an individual orientation by appointment.