The Rutgers A.S.P.I.R.E. Mentoring Program

Achieving Success & Promoting Initiative, Respect, Excellence

Every five seconds a student in America drops out of high school—over six million per year.1  In Camden, half of the city’s residents have not completed high school and only 5.5 percent hold a Bachelor’s or professional degree.2

In response to this crisis, the Rutgers CLC created the ASPIRE project, a student mentoring program designed to support Camden youth during their transition into high school.  The program provides mentors to 9th graders at LEAP Academy University Charter School to help them develop academically and socially throughout their high school years. 

ASPIRE recruits college students from Camden City to serve as mentors, who work to preempt any of the common factors that inevitably lead to drop outs by identifying students who need tutoring, counseling, or health services. 

At Rutgers, we aspire to achieve success and promote initiative, respect, and excellence.  With your help, we can ensure every LEAP child graduates high school and has an opportunity for college and career success. 

1 Based on a May 2009 report by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University (Boston, MA) and the Alternative Schools Network (Chicago, IL). 
2 Based on a June 2006 report by CamConnect (Camden, NJ).