College & Career Readiness
The benefits of youth mentoring don’t end when a Little becomes a teenager. We offer many youth development opportunities to support Littles throughout middle and high school, and even beyond as a BBBS alumni. Watch this video below to hear from leaders across the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America network speak about the importance of college and career readiness in youth mentoring.
Our college and career readiness programming equips young adults with the skills needed to graduate from high school, prepare for a career or post-secondary education, and turn dreams into reality. With the guidance of volunteer mentors, students learn how to build academic confidence, improve study skills, cultivate healthy peer relationships, and strengthen self-advocacy skills.
We offer the following post-secondary readiness and career exploration opportunities to help Littles prepare for a successful future:
- College exploration and planning
- Finding scholarship and financial aid opportunities
- Test preparation for college entrance exams
- Post-secondary workshops and campus tours
Scholarships
Paying for college can be daunting. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help supplement the costs. Our College & Career Readiness staff connects Littles and alumni with local, state, and national scholarship opportunities and platforms that make applying for scholarships for manageable.
Thanks to the generosity of Federated Insurance, our Littles and alumni can apply for the Federated Challenge Scholarship. This scholarship is available for Littles/Alumni who have been matched for 18 months or longer looking to attend a two-year or less post-secondary Minnesota institution. Applications generally open in February, and recipients are announced by June. The scholarship provides up to $5,000 per year for a maximum of $10,000 total. Learn more.
Workforce Readiness
Learning about possible career paths and interests can be the start of a promising future for a young person. Our BBBS team helps Littles in middle, high school, and alumni match their interests to real-world job opportunities and give them a head start in thinking about future careers. Our age-appropriate services include:
- Tours of local businesses and corporations
- Individual interest assessments
- Connections to summer enrichment programming
- Practical employment skills workshops
- Individual career counseling and referrals
- Connections to jobs and internships
