Take Stock in Children of Florida named Ashlyn Wallace Borden 2024 Take Stock in Children Alumni of the Year. Ashlyn is a 2010 graduate of the Sarasota County Take Stock in Children program.
Annually, the Alumni of the Year award recognizes a former Take Stock scholar who chooses to “pay it forward” by giving back to Take Stock in Children.
Ashlyn’s commitment to education and to Take Stock led Ashlyn to begin mentoring during COVID, a time when on-campus, face-to-face mentorship ceased, yet students experienced the greatest need for connection and guidance. Since becoming a mentor, Ashlyn has worked with two students from Pine View School, Ashlyn’s alma mater. Ashlyn consistently nurtures mentees’ self-confidence and has built trusting relationships with both students to remain connected and well-informed about current issues impacting the mentees. Ashlyn has attended mentees’ “big moments,” such as graduations and school performances, and celebrated significant milestones, including one mentee’s acceptance to a first-choice prestigious university. “We are consistently amazed and impressed with how Ashlyn is able to relate and connect with students through the virtual platform. Ashlyn has taken advantage of all the opportunities Take Stock has to offer and has been incredibly positive, supportive, and encouraging to our mentees,” shared Melanie Custer, Student Services Coordinator with Take Stock Sarasota, who provided Ashlyn’s nomination.
“Take Stock in Children is privileged to provide scholarships, mentors and hope to empower at-risk, academically qualified students from low-income backgrounds to break the cycle of poverty through education,” said Jillian Hasner, President and CEO of Take Stock in Children of Florida. “Our organization is deeply appreciative of our Take Stock scholars who give back by becoming mentors and role models for the next generation of Take Stock students.”
A passion for teaching and learning inspired Ashlyn Wallace Borden to graduate from Florida State University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Child Sciences, with minors in psychology and education. Ashlyn then earned a Graduate Certification from the University of South Florida in Infant-Family Mental Health in 2020. Aside from Ashlyn’s role as a Take Stock mentor, Ashlyn is paying it forward in Sarasota by educating and nurturing young children as a Preschool Educator at Forty Carrots Family Center.