Maintaining Meaningful Relationships: How Elevate Prioritizes Alumni Care

At Elevate, when we say “long-term, transformative relationships,” we mean it. 

From cross-age mentoring to our Alumni Growth & Persistence program, we aim to provide support, guidance, and empowerment in every stage of a student’s life. 

Our mission of fostering long-term relationships allows us to walk alongside our students from their childhood classrooms into their adult lives. Our holistic approach aims to equip students with lessons and skills that they will carry with them to achieve long-term success.

Te’Niah was one such student, now alumni. After her sister joined the Elevate family, Te’Niah first participated in Elevate through our summer program when she was just 12 years old. Once she got to high school, she continued to experience the transformative impact of the Elevate model. Te'Niah said:

“The mentors pushed me to do and be better. I remember all of the help I received from the mentors during college tours, resume workshops, and life skills classes."

After graduating from Lawrence Central High School in 2022, Te’Niah entered the Business and Dental Technician programs at Indiana Wesleyan University. Thanks to the training she received through Elevate, she confidently began her college career intending to establish a stable career path. Now, she is working full-time while going to school in the evenings and weekends, maintaining a near 4.0 GPA.

As she navigates adult life and pursues her degree, Te’Niah’s Teacher-Mentors continue to check in with her through in-person meetups and the VConnect app, which allows students to connect with their Teacher-Mentors when needed. The Elevate team also continues to provide valuable resources like scholarship applications that she said have “helped me obtain the materials I need for success.” 

From the moment our students enrol in Elevate, their Teacher-Mentors strive to equip them with the life skills necessary to thrive both academically and personally. In addition to supporting her through college & career preparations, Te'Niah's Teacher-Mentor, Ms. Banks, helped her obtain her driver's permit back in 2023. This led to Te'Niah obtaining her driver's license this year.

As she navigates the ups and downs of adulthood, Te’Niah knows she is capable of choosing the right path to overcome obstacles.

“When you become an adult, life gets real. There is no room for major errors...Prioritizing goals and making the right choices regarding your future can save you in the long run.” -Te'Niah, LCHS '22

As Te'Niah said, life gets real when you enter adulthood. At Elevate, we are determined to let students and alumni know that we are here to support, guide, and empower them to overcome life's challenges. After all, once in Elevate, always in Elevate.