A Guiding Light

by Laura Breen Galante

men·tor: ˈmenˌtôr,ˈmenˌtər/. noun. A wise and trusted counselor or teacher, an influential sponsor or supporter.

Cheryl Blakeney of Altamonte Springs is the epitome of what a mentor should be. For more than two decades, Cheryl has volunteered with the nonprofit Take Stock in Children, a statewide program that provides mentors for teens, with the goal of helping high-achieving, low-income students navigate their way through high school.

Not only is Cheryl the current Take Stock in Children Mentor of the Year for Seminole County, she is also the 2025 Mentor of the Year for the entire state     of Florida. 

Shannon Rininger, Take Stock’s mentor coordinator, says the State Mentor of the Year is the program’s highest honor, one that recognizes an outstanding mentor out of the 45 Take Stock affiliate programs that cover Florida’s 67 counties.

“If I had to use one word to describe Cheryl, it would be kind,” says Shannon. “Her personality is welcoming and warm, and she invites her students to share their feelings, making them feel accepted.”

Empowering Students To Succeed

Since 1995, Take Stock’s mission has been to provide support, mentors, and scholarships to empower at-risk, academically qualified students from low-income backgrounds to break the cycle of poverty through education. Students apply to the program in eighth grade, and if accepted, they receive a mentor and wraparound services over the next four years.

At graduation, they are awarded a two-year Florida Prepaid college scholarship. Many of these teens are potential first-generation college students.

Cheryl has been volunteering with Take Stock in Children for the past 24 years and has mentored 10 young women at Winter Springs, Lake Howell, Lake Mary, Lake Brantley, and Seminole high schools.

“My decision to become a mentor stemmed from my lifelong passion for teaching math and working with children,” says Cheryl, a mother of four, grandmother of six, and owner of her own financial counseling firm. “Though I became an accountant instead of a math teacher, mentoring allowed me to fulfill my dream of positively impacting young lives.”

Being named State Mentor of the Year was an exhilarating and humbling experience for Cheryl.

“My years of commitment, pouring my heart into mentoring these young ladies, and my passion to make a profound difference in their lives have been truly meaningful,” says Cheryl.

This marks the second time in recent years that a volunteer from Seminole County has been chosen as the state honoree. Lake Mary’s Jeff Siebenaller, who Lake Mary Life wrote about in a previous feature, received the award in 2023.

Relationship Building Is Key

Take Stock in Children’s mentors are expected to meet with students at least 30 minutes per week, but Cheryl and many other mentors go well beyond that. For Cheryl, Take Stock is about cultivating relationships.

“Mentoring is more than teaching skills or giving advice,” she says. “It’s about making a meaningful, lasting, positive impact on their journey toward growth and success.”

Cheryl has supported her mentees by attending school events such as chorus, theater, gospel choir, band, and dance performances, National Honor Society inductions, graduation ceremonies and parties, and volunteer events.

“Of the eight young ladies who have graduated, I’m still in contact with five,” says Cheryl. “The longest relationship with my mentee has been 23 years, with my first student. She is now 39, and I started mentoring her when she was 16. She’s now married, has four children, and is a medical assistant at a hospital in Sanford.”

Isabel, another of her mentees, says having Cheryl on her side made a big difference.

“Cheryl was a constant source of support and guidance during some of the most important years of my life,” says Isabel, who graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2024. “One memory I’ll always hold close is when she attended my college graduation. Her presence showed me how much she cared, and it meant the world to have her cheering me on. The Take Stock in Children program and Cheryl’s mentorship were transformative for me.”

Another mentee, Natalia, says Cheryl’s kindness and trustworthiness immediately put her at ease.

“She guided me and helped me with everything and would always check on me,” says Natalia, who graduated from the University of North Florida in 2024. “If anyone deserves this award, it is Ms. Cheryl, and I will always be thankful and grateful for her.” 

Cheryl’s current mentee, Alyana, says she’s overjoyed to have Cheryl as her guide through high school. 

“She’s a beautiful, heartwarming lady who does her best to make sure I’m cared for and supported,” says Alyana. “She is so much more than a mentor.”

Taking Things to Heart 

Take Stock volunteers help students manage social or academic challenges, boost their confidence, teach essential skills, and inspire them to set and achieve goals that will shape their future.

“Mentors are truly the heart of Take Stock in Children, and we are thankful for all 10,319 of our Take Stock mentors throughout our network,” says Shannon.

Since its inception, the program has served 44,136 students across the state through 3,145,860 volunteer hours.

“This year, Seminole County is welcoming 30 new students to our program [bringing the total to 120], so the need for mentors is greater than ever,” adds Shannon.

Take Stock in Children is looking for caring volunteers to dedicate their time to mentor students on campus during school hours or virtually using the Take Stock app. 

“If you’re thinking about becoming a mentor, I strongly encourage you to take the leap,” says Cheryl. “It’s a deeply rewarding experience where you can make a lasting impact on a young person’s life.”

To learn more, visit TakeStockInChildren.org or email Shannon Rininger at riningsi@sps.k12.fl.us.