By Nate LaMar

New Castle resident

As the June 30 deadline approaches for income-eligible eighth-graders to register for the 21st Century Scholarship, we should be thankful to journalists such as Bethany Tabb in the New Castle Courier Times of June 13 (Bravo to Wilbur Wright Elementary School Principal Tony Personett for getting 100 percent of his eligible sixth-graders registered!) and Larry Riley in the Muncie Star Press of May 17 for reminding us of the deadline.

Too many eligible Hoosier families needlessly leave scholarship money on the table by not encouraging their eighth-graders to simply register and pledge the following: to graduate from high school; to achieve at least a 2.0 GPA; to not use illegal drugs or alcohol, nor commit a crime; to apply for admission to an Indiana public or private college or university; and to apply on time for state and federal student financial aid.

Likewise, as a Henry County Extension Board Member, I was recently shocked to learn that, although we award two W.G. Smith Scholarships per year, only one Henry Co. 4-H member even bothered to apply this year! Sadly, yet another scholarship left on the table!

My maternal grandfather had an eighth-grade education. My paternal grandfather, born in 1888, had only a sixth-grade education. However, both married better-educated women and became socially mobile. Today, it is less common to marry outside one’s education level. This is among the causes of there being less social mobility than in the past.

While many become the first in their families to go to college, the likelihood of becoming the first in one’s family to actually graduate from college is low (Source: US Department of Education). Therefore, social mobility is still difficult. This is where mentors come in. I have a friend in northern Virginia who is a member of a First-Generation Graduate (FIRGG) program, by which first-generation college graduates mentor those who are the first in their families to go to college, to help ensure that they do not drop out.

Dr. Cathy Hamilton can attest to the importance of mentors. A retired Ohio educational administrator, she recently returned home to her roots in New Castle and quickly became a community asset. Born into poverty, Cathy had teachers, who encouraged her to further her education. She travels the country consulting public officials, non-profit organizations and educators on understanding poverty. She is the first to tell you that nobody can “pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” unless they have mentors helping them along the way. Dr. Hamilton recently shared with me data from each school district on the number of Henry County’s income-eligible high school students who have actually registered for the 21st Century Scholarship (it’s too late after June 30 of your eighth-grade year). The number is too few.

The research is clear; there are two ways out of economic poverty: relationship and education. These scholarships can be the stepping stones for our economically depressed students to attain education.

It is high time that we start some FIRGG chapters of mentors in Indiana, perhaps at least one per county. Otherwise, whether for 21st Century Scholars, other scholarships or producing first-generation college graduates, precious money will continue to be left on the table and social mobility will become even more limited.

If there is a sixth-, seventh- or eighth-grade student out there whose family is struggling financially, I encourage that family to call 888-528-4719 to see if that student qualifies for Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program. Make that call before June 30.

Nate LaMar serves as Henry County Council President.