Walk into the ASPIRE room at Toledo Jr/Sr High School, and it feels less like a classroom and more like a living room or casual café. Couches, comfortable chairs, and snacks create a welcoming space where students come and go throughout the day, whether they have a scheduled mentoring session or simply need a safe place to talk and think about their future.
That intentional atmosphere is part of the vision of Jen Hamilton, who is in her second year as GEAR UP coordinator and ASPIRE program director at Toledo. Hamilton, along with Melinda Dye, ASPIRE coordinator at Newport High School, was recently named a College Access Champion by Oregon GEAR UP for her work helping students plan for life after high school.
ASPIRE is a statewide mentoring program overseen by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission. The program pairs trained volunteer mentors with students to provide one-on-one support in career exploration, college planning, and scholarship research. Mentors help students navigate applications, understand financial aid, and build confidence as they set goals for their future.
Hamilton hosts events throughout the year designed to help students start thinking early about what comes next. One of those is a “Picture Your Future” event, where colleges and local businesses come together to share information with students. “It’s really about improving college awareness so students can make a plan,” Hamilton said.
She also organizes field trips that connect learning to real-world experiences, including a visit to a Portland Trail Blazers game, where students learn about the many careers involved in producing a professional sporting event. About two-thirds of Toledo’s middle and high school students participate in ASPIRE.
Local ASPIRE mentor coordinator Ron Brocklehurst said the program’s impact is especially strong in smaller schools like Toledo and Eddyville. “Middle school students are also participating and starting to learn what it’s like to be in high school and why keeping up their grades matters,” Brocklehurst said.
Brocklehurst also hosts a weekly student roundtable, where students talk about their dream jobs, where they see themselves in 10 years, and their plans to make those dreams a reality.
One student benefiting from that support is Tenaya Cordova, a Toledo senior who will be a first-generation college student in her family. Tenaya has a 4.0 GPA, perfect attendance, and has participated in five varsity sports. She has already applied to several colleges and credits ASPIRE with helping her focus on her future.
“It has just pushed me to think about college and my future and where I wanted to go,” Tenaya said. She plans to pursue a career in nutrition and return to the area to work at the Tribal pharmacy.
Tenaya’s senior mentor, Peter Vince, a retired teacher and chair of the Lincoln County School District Board of Directors, finds volunteering extremely rewarding.
“I work with students on their scholarship essays, and I have gotten to know them pretty well,” Vince said. “They have all shown resiliency, competency, and intelligence, and their ability to think about their futures makes me feel very positive. Working with these seniors is definitely a highlight of my retirement.”
While the program continues to grow, Hamilton said challenges remain, including student procrastination. “I feel like a nagging mom sometimes,” she said. “There is a lot of apprehension. Many of our students are first-generation college students, and they are scared.”
Despite those challenges, Hamilton and Brocklehurst agree that ASPIRE’s success is driven by relationships and community support. As participation increases, so does the need for volunteer mentors. “Mentors are changing lives,” Brocklehurst said. “It is so rewarding.”
ASPIRE mentors can volunteer as little as one hour a week, though some choose to give more time. All volunteers complete a background check and training through the district.
Community members interested in becoming an ASPIRE mentor can contact Jen Hamilton at jen.hamilton@lincoln.k12.or.us for more information or visit the Lincoln County School District website at lincoln.k12.or.us to learn more about volunteering.