Goal Card Program

Special congratulations to our Goal Card graduate, Taylor for her academic achievements and for being one of three Goal Card Legacy Students for the class of 2023.  Taylor has been a member of Goal Card since her 6^th grade year at Cummings Middle School and has made tremendous strides academically and socially while in the program. Taylor graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in May 2023 in the top 10% of her class and will attend Jackson State University in the fall. Taylor received RISE’s inaugural Nia K. Smith Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $500 to assist with her tuition expenses at JSU. While in the Goal Card program, Taylor served in several student leadership positions and was recognized as a Goal Card Student-of-the-Month for three consecutive years. Taylor has excelled in cosmetology while at BTW and received city-wide recognition for her talent. Throughout her many years in the Goal Card program, Taylor says that she will always remember the mentorship and support that she received from the RISE staff and from her mentors at International Paper. RISE is so proud to witness Taylor’s growth over time and looks forward to seeing the great things she will accomplish in the future as a first-generation college student!  

While students were at home learning during the pandemic; the most vital part of our Goal Card program -- our volunteer support from Goal Card coaches, took a shift and went virtual to accommodate the safety of our students, staff, and volunteers. We are proud to say that after nearly two years of virtual coaching, our Goal Card volunteers have returned to in-person mentoring for the 2022-2023 school year! Our Goal Card students in grades 5-12 are thrilled to experience their coaches in-person and were happy to build that relationship with them during these difficult times.

Our 5^th grade students at LaRose Elementary are blessed to receive mentorship from volunteer coaches at International Paper. These coaches show up to the school every nine weeks after report cards are released to review the students’ grades, navigate through any hardship faced during the grading period, and set goals for the upcoming 9-week period. They also get to have a bit of fun by helping our students redeem points for the grades earned during the 9-week period. Students are able to spend their points to shop in our Goal Card catalog for school supplies, gift cards, small electronics, and more!

RISE Memphis is thrilled to have our coaches back in action as they have worked diligently to provide support to our students this school year. We have several volunteer opportunities available at RISE Memphis! If you are interested in volunteering in one of our amazing programs, please contact Tangela Morgan, Development Director, at 901-507-6638.

Links:

• Goal Card Excellence