Pensacola, Fla. – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida (BBBSNWFL) spent the day at Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart with 20 Littles from Pensacola High School for their first day of School to Work. BBBSNWFL and Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart is excited to see these matches grow and watch the students find their purpose to motivate their academic performance and graduate.
The School to Work program is a two-year program for high school students that starts when they are juniors and continues through their senior year up until their graduation day. The students enrolled in the School to Work program are matched with a volunteer mentor employee, also known as a “Big.” The program provides a first-hand look at the business world and real-life work experience for high-school students. The students are transported from school to the worksite and back. For 4 hours, once a month the students meet with their mentors where they get an insight into career path goalsetting, soft skill development, and motivation to graduate with the added support of a 1-to-1 friendship.
“Without someone to consistently help in stressing the importance of education and sharing the do’s and don’ts of this critical transition from high school to the next steps in life, our Littles often get a bit lost.” Said Paula Shell, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. “The School to Work project aligns perfectly with our community’s emphasis on increased high school graduation rates, postsecondary completion rates,
and overall employment & prosperity.”
“Joining the School to Work program was something we immediately knew we wanted to get involved in.” Said Cat Outzen, Director of Community Relations & Children’s Programs of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. “We care for children every day, so being able to take the next step with them and walk them through these critical transition points that will affect their future is overwhelming and we are so excited to watch each and every one of them grow and succeed.”
