Project SOAR Overview
Founded in 2005, Project SOAR is a service-learning experience that places undergraduate mentors at under-resourced middle schools in Tucson. In an effort to increase middle schoolers’ levels of academic achievement, mentors address topics like self-esteem, career exploration, and the college search process. In class, mentors explore cultural, social and environmental factors affecting middle schoolers’ academic achievement and pathways to higher education.
“I always felt like the educational system was out of my hands,
but being a mentor has shown me that I can make an impact.”-SOAR mentor
“My mentee has taught me so much about life and she doesn’t even know it.
She is in sixth grade and her favorite food is pizza and rice. There is not a subject in school that she dislikes.
Trust, me I have asked her several times. She always says, “Miss, I do love every class. I swear!”
She loves to run, whether it be track or soccer. She loves it all. Basically, this little six grader loves life.
And, every time I walk out the doors of her middle school, I love life too.”-SOAR mentor
SOAR Mentors, fall 2014
Goals
The goal of the program is to encourage middle school students to think about their futures after high school, and to:
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gain a basic understanding of what college is,
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why it might be important for their future career, and
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how one goes about searching for and applying to college.
Mentors share their experiences regarding the college search process, the college experience both in the classroom and on campus, major selection, balancing homework with other obligations (work, family, clubs, athletics, etc.), and discuss the basics of financial aid.
Impact of the Program
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Over 25,000 mentoring hours have been logged by SOAR mentors since 2005.
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Over 2,300 middle school students have benefited from a SOAR mentor since 2005.
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A 2011 mentee survey revealed that 73.3% of the middle school students believed they had a mentor who motivated them to do well in school, believed they could be a success (74%), and had increased their motivation to get good grades (67.9%).
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72% of the middle school mentees surveyed agreed that their mentors had increased their interest in going to college. Additionally, mentors were credited for increasing their knowledge about getting into college (69.4%) and future careers (67%).