Local Partnership Awards $100,000 in Scholarships to Hamilton County Foster Youth

The Higher Education Mentoring Initiative (HEMI) is looking forward to an evening of celebration to highlight mentors, mentees,and dedicated partners at the annual HEMI Celebration Dinner.

HEMI will also announce the mentees who have received scholarships for the 2016-2017 school year at the event. HEMI will award $100,000 to our mentees in order to pursue their post-secondary education at the Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center from 6-8pm, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015.

HEMI provides Hamilton County foster youth a long-term academic mentoring relationship that begins in high school,and is focused on awareness of, and preparation for, and completion of post-secondary education and training.

This year, HEMI is able to offer scholarships to HEMI students who are currently seniors in high school, mentees currently enrolled in post-secondary education or training programs, and e-engagement youth who are ready to begin their post-secondary education after taking a brief leave from school.

HEMI is also able to provide funding for HEMI PREP students to earn funds toward their scholarship bank, which can be used toward an accredited college or certification program after high school graduation. HEMI PREP works with Hamilton County foster youth in grades 9 and 10 who attend Cincinnati Public Schools.

The goal of HEMI PREP is to help foster youth prioritize resiliency, education and preparation earlier in their education in order to pave the way for improved academic outcomes. Participating in the essay competition to showcase the youth’s writing skills is one component of the HEMI PREP program.

HEMI is a partnership between Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners, Hamilton County Job & Family Services/OhioMeansJobs, the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Great Oaks Career Campuses and Mount St. Joseph University.

About HEMI’s Partnership with the University of Cincinnati (UC): HEMI is housed within UC’s CECH PASS Center, which stands for the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services’ (CECH) Partner for Achieving School Success. CECH PASS was established to provide university-community partnerships and outreach programs that promote and enhance positive educational outcomes for students. In addition to HEMI, CECH PASS houses several other programs that improve student academic achievement through school and community partnerships.