West Virginia GEAR UP recently published a press release highlighting their widely successful mentoring program, the Student Success Society initiative. Through this initiative, students are being connect with mentors in their schools to build leadership skills, increase their engagement in academic and extra curricular activities, and prepare for enrollment at a postsecondary institution. Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission's Interim Chancellor said, "Young adults who face an opportunity gap, but have a mentor, are 55 percent more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor. In addition to better school attendance and a better chance of going on to higher education, mentored youth maintain more positive attitudes toward school. These efforts in our GEAR UP high schools are showing incredibly promising results, which we hope to continue building upon." Not only are students receiving valuable mentorship, but they are also giving back to their communities through various service projects.