Page 56 - Life In Naples Magazine - November 2015

ARREAGA BROTHERS,
other TIF students set example for expanding Take Stock in Children program
by Steven Kissinger
B rothers Elijah and Alejandro Arreaga, whose
parents work in agriculture in Immokalee, are
on their way to becoming professionals with
college degrees in sports management and engineering
due to their success in The Immokalee Foundation’s
Take Stock in Children scholarship program. And soon,
30 more Immokalee High School students will join the
Arreaga brothers and 120 others who have pledged to
keep their grades and personal standards high as the
program expands.
ISABEL (MOM), ALEJANDRO, ALEJANDRO ARREAGA, SR. (DAD)
TIF’s board of directors recently approved opening the
TSIC program to deserving students already enrolled in
one of three foundation programs: Career Development,
Junior Career Development or Immokalee Readers.
“Those eligible for Take Stock already meet the criteria
as participants in other TIF programs, like maintaining
at least a 2.5 GPA, being drug and crime free and
participating in community service,” said Noemi Perez,
TIF program services director. Those students in grades
8 to 11 chosen for TIF’s Take Stock in Children will be
assigned mentors, with whom they will meet weekly.
“My mentor really helps me keep myself on track,”
said Alejandro Arreaga, who was chosen for the program
56
in seventh grade. “The Immokalee ELIJAH ARREAGA
Foundation has given me the
opportunity to see what my future
can be like, with career panels and
other things. I’m building my way
toward a good college.”
If he maintains his pledge,
Alejandro will graduate from high
school and have tuition paid for
two years at a college or university,
with the opportunity to qualify
for more scholarships – like his
brother did.
Elijah Arreaga is halfway
through a Bachelor of Science
degree in sports management and
a minor in business administration
and earned two additional years of scholarships.
“Rewards have been plentiful and not just confined to the all-
important financial help,” Elijah said. “TIF has helped me grow as a
young man.”
A committee of community leaders, Immokalee High School
staff members and TIF board members are examining and scoring
applications, essays and interviews from 50 qualified applicants. Among
them, approximately 40 of the top-ranking were chosen for Take Stock
in Children and welcomed at a meeting and contract signing in October.
Since TIF started the program in Immokalee in 2001, more than $1
million in scholarships have been awarded. At present, 66 scholarship
students are enrolled in higher education and attending many colleges
and universities, including Smith College, Michigan State University,
The Citadel, University of Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University.
The Immokalee Foundation provides a range of education programs
that focus on building pathways to success through college and
post-secondary preparation and support, mentoring and tutoring,
opportunities for broadening experiences and life skills development
leading to economic independence.To learn more aboutTIF,volunteering
as a mentor or for additional information, call 239.430.9122 or visit
www.immokaleefoundation.org.
Steven Kissinger, executive director of The Immokalee Foundation, can be
reached at steven.kissinger@immokaleefoundation.com.
Life in Naples | November 2015