Project Leadership mentoring program participants will gather together 
Saturday, June 13^th, at Ivy Tech’s Marion campus to celebrate a year of programming achievements at the 8^th Annual Red Rubber Ball Banquet.

The Red Rubber Ball is a metaphor for your passion in life – what inspires you to chase your dreams every day – and is based upon the series of inspirational books written by Kevin Carroll. The annual Red Rubber Ball Banquet in the Conference Center at Ivy Tech will bring together mentors, mentees, and their families to reflect on mentoring program achievements during the 2014-2015 school year. The banquet will include awarding the mentor and mentee of the year for both Delaware and Grant counties and recognition of all program participants. Banquet registration begins at 5 p.m. with the program beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Project Leadership mentoring program began in Grant County in 2007 and expanded to Delaware in 2010. The program is for high school and post-secondary students who are 21^st Century Scholars. The Scholars program promises four years of free college tuition to low-income students who pledge to graduate from high school, achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, agree not to use illegal drugs or alcohol or commit a crime and apply to an eligible Indiana college or technical school.

Project Leadership mentoring matches meet weekly, often over lunch at school. Mentors provide guidance for students to help them stay on track as they navigate their way through high school and to post-secondary settings.