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Our History
Founded in 1998 by a group of diverse Detroit businessmen concerned about educational opportunities for at-risk Detroit area youth, Student mentor Partners began with three students in three schools.
Today we support more than 35 boys and girls in 11 private high schools, making private school affordable for low-income families. Student Mentor Partners has developed comprehensive partnerships with the principals, counselors and teachers at our partnering high schools to effectively monitor students and their academic and social growth. This helps to ensure that they will be prepared for college.
The average tuition sponsorship is $2,000 annually per student, which covers partial tuition costs to attend one of the partnering private high schools. Each student is matched with an individual adult mentor for four years until high school graduation. 99% of our program graduates have gone on to attend college, with many of them receiving scholarships.
Our Mission
The mission of Student Mentor Partners is to provide at-risk Detroit-area youth with an opportunity to realize their dreams to graduate from high school. By providing tuition assistance to one of our partnering independent schools, and matching these young people with an adult mentor, we enable them to compete more successfully for employment, become better qualified for higher education, achieve greater personal fulfillment and contribute more productively to society.
Our Staff
Tyler MacEachran, MPA
Executive Director
Tyler began his tenure with Student Mentor Partners in summer 2010, having spent 10 successful years with the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. He is a dedicated and creative leader in the non-profit realm, with extensive experience in program management, fundraising, grant-writing, operations and social media.
“This is a thrilling opportunity for me,” says Tyler. “The mission and the goals of Student Mentor Partners are solid and the results are proven. Mentoring has always been a keen interest of mine and I’m looking forward to growing the organization.”
Erin Crouch
AmeriCorps Member
Erin comes to Student Mentor Partners as a first year AmeriCorps member and recent Michigan State graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in Family Community Service. As a Detroit nave, Erin has the love and passion to help her community in every way possible. While attending MSU, Erin was the Director of Project Green, a community service organization that connects students, employers and community members. She has also been the Community Service Chair for a student organization within the College of Education, TEAM (Tomorrows Educators for the Advancement of the Multicultural students). This organization promotes diversity inside and outside of the classroom. Working with youth and empowering their lives is her life mission, and she hopes to continue that with Student Mentor Partners.
Candace Campbell
AmeriCorps Member
Candace is a Media Arts major from Wayne State University. She has recently become a mentor with Student Mentor Partners as well as becoming an AmeriCorps member. She was the coordinator for Southfield's Mayor, Brenda Lawrence's "Let's Move! Summer Youth Fitness Camp," for two years, helping the city's youth gain knowledge of healthy eating and exercise throughout their summer vacation.
"I love helping others and making a difference. It feels so good. After working with those kids each camp day, I knew I had the tools to continue work with youth and help them become better people."
Since joining Student Mentor Partners, she has gained a new outlook on her future goals and wants to make sure she has an impact on the youth of the program.
Our Board of Directors
Student Mentor Partners is fortunate to have dedicated and committed board members, each one believing and supporting our mission and our goals.
“I believe education provides the best possible building block for taking care of oneself and the communities in which we live,”
Sandra MacDonald, Student Mentor Partners Board Member
Student Mentor Partners Board of Directors, 2010
- Paul Edwards, MD (President), Chair, Department of Opthalmology, Henry Ford Health Systems
- Canice Johnson, RSM, PhD (Vice President), Educator, Sisters of Mercy
- Mary Jo Adragna (Treasurer), Community Volunteer
- Shanta McMullan (Secretary), Attorney, Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn, LLP
- Bill Adlhoch, President, Adlhoch and Associates Realtors
- Sandra MacDonald, Vice President of Human Resources, North American Operations, Inergy Automotive Systems
- Tyler MacEachran, Executive Director, Student Mentor Partners
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