Take Stock in Children, a program that pays college tuition for students who make good grades and stay out of trouble, celebrates 10 years this week with the signing of 60 new students. The organization also is urging students to take tougher classes.

"Take Stock is cooperating with Schools Superintendent Joe Burke to encourage our students to take more higher level advanced placement courses in high school, and more challenging courses in middle school," said John Padget, vice president of the Monroe County Education Foundation, which oversees the program.

Only students who meet certain criteria, such as economic hardship, maintaining good grades and a lifestyle free of drugs and crime, are picked for the honor, said Take Stock Coordinator Jim Hall.

"Students sign a contract agreeing to keep their grades at A, B or C level through high school, obey the code of student conduct and remain crime- and drug-free," Hall said. "Each student must also meet once each week during school hours on school property with his or her assigned mentor, an adult volunteer."

At least 266 students are now attending college or have completed college educations under the program.

According to Padget, Take Stock students show solid achievement in test scores and other ways under the program.

"Across Florida, the high school graduation rate for Take Stock students is 92 percent versus only 57 percent for the peer-control group," said Padget, who also sits on the State Board of Education. "More than 80 percent of the 266 high school graduates from Monroe have graduated from college, or are on track to do so."

Eligible students are found through a computer search of school records and the recommendation of teachers and community members, Hall said. Members of the Monroe Education Foundation and Take Stock all participate in picking the students.

Students this week will sign contracts and meet their mentors during ceremonies at schools throughout the county.

Take Stock raised $300,000 to pay for last year's scholarships, chiefly through local donations and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation in Tallahassee.

"We use a blend of public and private money," Hall said.

The program also always needs mentors to guide the students through the competitive high school years. Mentors are a critical component of the Take Stock program, offering personal guidance, encouragement and support.

"They help students develop their own problem-solving and personal management skills, as well as the personal values that will remain with them for the rest of their lives," Hall said.

jguerra@keysnews.com