Mentors help students achieve college dreams

Submitted by Jarrod Daab

While many people were preparing to watch the big game on Feb. 5, students from Highland Park High School, Deerfield High School, and Lake Forest High School were preparing for something else: their futures in college. Thirty students from the three high schools and their families were celebrating their acceptance by College Bound Opportunities into its program. CBO mentors economically disadvantaged students and provides them with the resources to get into college and graduate.

Founded in 2006, CBO provides scholarships and laptops for the college-bound students, but most importantly, it provides a one-on-one mentorship. The event gave the students and their families the opportunity to meet their volunteer mentor who will be working with the students for the next six years. Because most of the students are the first in their families to be going to college, the mentors help them navigate the college application process and adapt to college life in order to successfully graduate. For many of these students, going to college didn’t seem possible. One student’s mother said, “This is a dream come true for us.”

The 30 students represent the largest class taken on by CBO thus far, and they join 89 students already in the CBO Scholar program. In its first year, the organization accepted four students. Optimism and excitement filled the air as the students and their mentors got to know each other.

Addressing the students, Cliff Bregstone, the founder of CBO, stated, “You are the reason that you will be successful. You were chosen and you will be successful. We salute you, class of 2017.”

College Bound Opportunities is a not-for-profit organization centered in the 10 communities within Deerfield and Highland Park High School District 113 and Lake Forest Community High School District 115. CBO identifies high-achieving young people who, without support, would likely forgo postsecondary education, and assists them in applying to and completing college. CBO goals are achieved through a program of one-on-one mentoring between volunteers and scholars. Additional aid provided by CBO includes tutoring, training services, laptop computers, and up to $4,000 per year in scholarships. Learn more at cbo4edu.org/who.html.

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