UCF Program Bridges Veteran education with youth Support in Central Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. – A long-standing University of Central Florida (UCF) program is offering a unique pathway for veterans to pursue higher education while simultaneously providing crucial academic support to elementary school students in a local community. “Soldiers to Scholars,” founded in 1995, pairs enrolled veterans with students at Eagle’s Nest Elementary School needing after-school assistance.
The program,created by Army veteran Dr. Alzo Reddick, offers veterans free tuition in exchange for a commitment of 7-10 hours of weekly mentorship. These mentors provide complete support, including daily transportation to and from school, serving breakfast and dinner at the Metro Place Apartments clubhouse, and dedicated time for homework help, reading, and math tutoring. Fun Friday activities are also incorporated into the schedule.
“Just being able to be a mentor for them and kind of like a big sister.It’s a passion of mine,” said Lizette Brown, a UCF student and Navy reservist participating in the program. ”I really enjoy being able to be that person that they’re like, ‘oh, I want to go to Miss Brown for something.'”
Program leaders emphasize the positive impact of the veterans’ consistent presence. “They’re very disciplined. They’re very structured. This might be the first time that they have a structured setting,” explained Administrative Coordinator Toni Leonard.
Marine Corps veteran Ken Bradshaw echoed this sentiment, adding, “I feel as though I’m gaining more out of it than they are… encouraging them to dream or to think outside of maybe what their reality might be today.”
the program’s effectiveness is evident in the academic progress of the students. “The impact that we’re making is that those grades are going up… just building that mentality that they should be responsible for their academics,” stated student Resource Specialist Sayra Langevin Pratts, who oversees the program’s daily operations.
Administrators are now looking to expand “Soldiers to Scholars” to additional communities within Orange County, hoping to reach more veterans and students in need. The program currently provides a mutually beneficial arrangement, allowing veterans to earn their degrees while fostering meaningful relationships with the children they mentor – relationships like the one Brown has built, where students now eagerly greet her as “Miss Brown” each day.
More details about Soldiers to Scholars can be found at https://access.ucf.edu/military/soldiers-to-scholars/.