Smart Start

Team members: Eddy Bailey, Becca Barnett, Blake Bridges, Crystal Chapman-Brown, Kyle Longest, Grant Nicholson, Allison Safford, Janet Zuckerman

In Spartanburg County, almost 20% of college-bound high school graduates fall victim to “summer melt,” as unseen challenges prevent them from following through with their dream. These challenges can range from navigating the complexities of the college admission process to the pressure some students feel to stay at home to support their family financially or in other ways.

One solution is mentoring. The Start Smart Coaching program addresses this head-on by partnering coaches with students to provide support and encouragement throughout the summer to improve college enrollment. Our “1 Coach, 3 Students, 1 Summer” plan utilizes texting between coach and student to provide the critical mentorship necessary to see these students successfully transition into higher education.

But it doesn’t end there. The goal of Start Smart goes beyond a successful enrollment and continues through the student’s collegiate journey. Coaches and students stay connected through at least the first year of college to provide guidance to the student in areas such as time management, financial literacy, study habits, and soft skills, such as speech and communication manners.

Ultimately, the vision of Start Smart is to impact student’s lives by providing the bridge needed to get them started in college, and then to continue that mentorship long enough to prepare and position the student for success in all facets of life.