March Spotlight 2026

This month’s student-mentor spotlight is mentor Nicole Kresse and her mentee, Genesis Ramos, at Yulee High School. The two have been matched since March 2021.

NICOLE KRESSE, Mentor

What do you consider to be your hometown?
I’m Florida-born and thrilled to call Fernandina home – it’ll be 10 years this Spring. This is the longest I’ve lived in a location since growing up in Wilmington, NC. I’ve had the pleasure to live and work in 19 countries, which makes me appreciate the calm that comes with living in such a beautiful area.

What made you decide to mentor with Take Stock?
To be honest, Robin Lentz sold me on it, but it wasn’t a hard sell. It’s an amazing program and the opportunity to help youth achieve an education is wonderful. I know what doors education has opened for me and I want that for everyone. I’ve also benefited a great deal from mentorship over the years in all areas of my life and know the power wisdom brings as well. I am thrilled to be able to support amazing youth-centric organizations like TSIC-N and America’s Youth.

How many students have you mentored?
My first mentee, Genesis, is graduating this year and I could not be prouder of her and excited for this next step, although I must say I’m really going to miss her! We started together in her 7th grade year, and I’ve seen her excel every single step of the way. As I’ve told the TSIC team, my mentee is a unicorn and a rock star! She’s doing great things and I cannot wait to see what’s next for her.

What have you gained from mentoring Genesis?
I learned long ago that giving back benefits the giver abundantly. Genesis has been the biggest blessing to partner with over the years. She’s so incredibly smart and driven that I’m not sure I help much as a mentor. I feel like more of her cheerleader because she has drive and vision — she’s been taking AP classes all of high school, excelling at grades, and involved in an amazing variety of groups, both academic and community service clubs, holding a number of leadership positions. She’ll be the first in her family to go to college next year and I’m blown away every week by how smart and thoughtful and powerful she is. She always shows me how strong and capable our young people are, and reminds me that we, as adults, have the privilege to support them in achieving their dreams and changing the world. Love this kid and I will always support her! 

One atypical thing as a mentor in the program is that I traveled a lot with my previous job and Genesis and the TSIC-N team really worked with me to make sure we could get our calls in and keep her in good standing with the program. So, I would take calls from Ukraine, sometimes in the evening and often on Sundays, which Genesis and Jacque graciously accommodated. Living and working in a warzone came with many challenges, including me taking calls from stairwells during air raids. I don’t think I ever told Genesis this, but those calls were really a bright spot in my week and always gave me something positive to look forward to. She’s always been a highlight of my week for nearly 5 years now!

GENESIS RAMOS, YULEE HIGH SCHOOL

Why did you want to apply for Take Stock?
I applied to Take Stock in Children because it offered mentorship, guidance, and financial support that would help me achieve my goal of attending college. As a first-generation student, TSIC Nassau gave me the opportunity to build a stronger future through education.

What have you learned from your relationship with your mentor, Nicole?
I learned the importance of accountability, confidence, and setting goals. She encouraged me to believe in myself and stay focused on my future. 

What is your favorite memory from TSIC?
My favorite memory from TSIC is mentor meetings, where I felt supported and motivated to keep working on my goals.

What are your plans after you graduate high school and TSIC?
After graduating high school, I plan to attend college and pursue a career in the medical field so I can give back to underserved communities.