Kentucky College Coaches is a statewide AmeriCorps program that places mentors in both secondary and post-secondary schools to support college access and student success. These AmeriCorps service members are tasked with acting as coaches to selected students, helping them be successful in all aspects of their school career. At the high school level, the student participants are encouraged to think about, apply for and achieve acceptance to college or some sort of post-secondary option. This involves doing whole-school activities as well as one-on-one mentoring with core students from each grade level (9th-12th grade). At the college level, the near-peer mentors will help the students engage in the school environment, experience academic success, and graduate with their chosen post-secondary degree or certificate of completion. The mentees are typically students who:
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Emily Bowman – Corbin/Knox County
National Service Award Recipient
“Emily Bowman serves as the AmeriCorps Kentucky College Coach at Lynn Camp High School. This marks her third school year serving in this role. AmeriCorps Kentucky College Coaches focus on mentoring high school students who might not envision themselves going to college, first-generation college students, and/or populations with low rates of college enrollment. Coaches are placed in high schools around Kentucky that have been identified as needing assistance based on their low college-going rate, high poverty rate, and for being underserved by other community-based services. Coaches mentor students through difficult situations, encouraging the pursuit of post-secondary education opportunities. In fulfilling this mission, coaches help with career exploration, college essays, admission applications, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshops, campus tours, and even financial literacy activities.
One of Ms. Bowman’s proudest accomplishments is that she knows the name of every senior at Lynn Camp High School, his or her career interest, and college options. This commitment has certainly paid off throughout her time as a Kentucky College Coach. As a direct result of her efforts, Ms. Bowman’s core students have amassed well over $200,000 in merit-based aid. This amount is not counting the need-based aid she has helped her students obtain through the FAFSA. Each year, the FAFSA application period opens on October 1. By the end of October, all of Ms. Bowman’s core seniors had completed both a college admissions application and the FAFSA. When acknowledging her success with core students, she simply said that she will not rest until every senior at Lynn Camp High School has completed these goals. Lynn Camp High School’s administration is so confident in Ms. Bowman’s abilities with students, that she independently takes the lead with all scholarship-related questions. In addition to partnering with outside education to provide classroom workshops, she individually meets with an average of 15-20 students per day. Ms. Bowman has also played a pivotal role in helping students experience college campuses. Throughout her service, Ms. Bowman attended and organized trips to 21 college campus visits, three regional college fairs, and five regional career fairs for a total of 756 students.”
Kody Ruark- Carlise/Nicholas County
“Kody Ruark serves as the AmeriCorps Kentucky College Coach at Nicholas County High School. This marks his third school year serving in this role. AmeriCorps Kentucky College Coaches focus on mentoring high school students who might not envision themselves going to college, first-generation college students, and/or populations with low rates of college enrollment. Coaches are placed in high schools around Kentucky that have been identified as needing assistance based on their low college-going rate, high poverty rate and being underserved by other community-based services. Coaches mentor students through difficult situations, encouraging the pursuit of post-secondary education opportunities. In fulfilling this mission, coaches help with career exploration, college essays, admission applications, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshops, campus tours, and even financial literacy activities.”
