Junior Achievement has mentoring programs at several IPS high schools including Broad Ripple High School. We are currently looking for volunteers to become mentors to juniors and seniors at the high school. Many of the current mentors are retired executives, but we are not limiting ourselves to executives. In fact, one of the long time volunteers for this program is Ralph Bedwell who was one of my teachers in the Humanities Program at BRHS.

On November 1, 2006, Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, Inc. (JACI) became the new home for the Management Assistance and Education Programs of Executive Service Corps of Indiana. JACI is delighted to welcome the programs, services, volunteers, and program directors.

Jeff Miller, President and CEO, shared, "Junior Achievement of Central Indiana is very excited to be a part of continuing the legacy of the ESC programs as well as the 32-year commitment to the community of ESC, whose programs have touched thousands of lives by helping organizations and individuals achieve their highest potential."

Following several months of strategic assessment and evaluation, and in response to growing pressures to maintain financial sustainability, the Executive Service Corps of Indiana made the very difficult decision to cease operations. Executive Service Corps was fortunate to find Junior Achievement of Central Indiana to continue the great work it had established over the past 32 years.

The IPS high school Mentor Program provides guidance to young people, initially in a group setting and then one-on-one during their senior year, with the purpose of encouraging youth to continue their education beyond high school despite obstacles they may encounter.

Highlights of the Mentor Program include campus and business tours, job shadowing opportunities, a get-acquainted picnic, a cultural event featuring dinner and a musical or play, and the annual awards banquet during which corporate-sponsored scholarships are awarded.

Exposure to the success stories and challenges that an ESC Mentor can provide insures a positive and long-lasting impression on these students' lives.

For more information visit the Junior Achievement website www.jaindy.org and click on ESC Programs.