TBAH provides a Talent Outreach Program (TOP) to promote the pursuit of higher education, the art of philanthropy, to develop leadership skills, and to foster volunteerism. This program is part of College Readiness for youth.  Key components of the program are coaching and mentoring which provide potentially first generation college students skills for goal setting, leadership, decision making, creative problem solving, civic responsibility and focus on giving and community development.  Students participate in one to one coaching sessions, group sessions, and community service opportunities in their host community. We service at least 80 students in this program, which is school-based, with after-school activities, which include college tours.  Students who participate in this program are identified by teacher, guidance counselors, and other school personnel in the 18 schools we service in Hillsborough County.  For the 2009-2010 school year, 87 students were identified and serviced in this project.  Of the 87 students serviced 86% of these students are identified as possible first generation college students, living at low or moderate income levels, residing in Hillsborough County, and lacking goals setting abilities and leadership skills, which represent the eligibility requirements of this program.  

 Goals for this program include:

Ø  Academics:  55% of enrolled students will maintain or improve to an academic average of 2.5 or greater (as indicated by semester grade point averages provided by the School District).

Ø  Academics:  65% of students enrolled and active who progress toward graduation will continue on to a higher education institution.

Ø  Attendance:  65% of enrolled students will maintain or improve attendance rates or will maintain or improve attendance rates to 85% or better (as indicated by the number of unexcused absences provided by the School District).

Ø  Behavior:  75% will have no suspensions during the school year (as indicated by the number of referrals resulting in suspensions in the course of a school year).

Student progress is monitored through the school year (grades are collected each quarter via the school district).

For participation in this program in please contact your school intervention specialist, guidance counselor, student resource counselor,  Tampa Bay Academy of Hope or complete an interest application here, staff will contact you upon receipt of the interest application.  You may return the interest application via email at info@tampahope.org or fax to (813) 209-9580.