Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Leadership award for College Mentors for Kids
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“It’s a testament to the students at USI,” Aaron Huff said. “It’s the dedication and the time spent by students who aren’t paid and who put forth their own time. They are making a difference in the community, and they are certainly making a difference at Culver Elementary School,” the After School Program coordinator added. Huff is referring to Leadership Evansville’s recent Project Leadership in Education award given to the University of Southern Indiana chapter of College Mentors for Kids. The USI chapter partners with Culver Elementary School to provide leadership and guidance to first through fourth graders in three specific areas: higher education, community service, and culture and diversity. Herman Thomas, assistant director of the USI Multicultural Center and site coordinator for USI’s Mentors for Kids, explained that a major goal of the program is to expose the children to college life and further their interest in pursuing higher education. The program consists of 45 Culver students and 48 USI mentors. Each Culver student or “Little Buddy” is assigned to a USI mentor or “Big Buddy,” and the two remain partners throughout the program. Thomas said this allows the pair to build a one-on-one relationship and, more importantly, trust. The USI mentors meet with their “Little Buddies” every Tuesday during the school year (except for finals week and breaks) for learning activities and social time on the USI campus. The Culver students write in personal journals and participate in a “College Question of the Week” at the end of each session. “The college question gives them a chance to reflect on the activity and what they just learned,” said Abbie Balbach, a junior elementary education major and Mentors for Kids participant. Balbach, who joined the program for a second year because of the relationship she built with her “Little Buddy,” is glad to see the USI chapter of Mentors for Kids receive the Project Leadership in Education award. “Sometimes I think the work we do goes unnoticed except by the participating students. It is nice to be recognized for the work that we’ve done,” she said. “Just seeing how much happiness the kids have and how excited they are to come to campus makes it worthwhile, but it’s also nice to know that community sees what we are doing as well.” Huff helps place Culver students into the program, and he said families of Mentors for Kids participants tend to enroll their younger children because they’ve witnessed the benefits firsthand. “They have a purpose behind the program, and that purpose is being met,” he said. “Children’s needs are being met, and we have families who are being serviced that truly enjoy and appreciate the program.” The relationship between USI and Culver extends beyond the Mentors for Kids program. USI education majors go to Culver Elementary to do their student-teaching and help out in other after school programs. These USI students also can have a positive impact in the lives of the Culver children. “These students mentor as well,” Huff said. “It’s not typical mentoring, but we still see positive effects from that because they are getting close to our students.” The College Mentors for Kids program began at Indiana University in 1995. USI started its chapter in 2000, and today 10 additional Indiana colleges have begun the program. The program incurs no cost to the Culver participants, and the USI students do not pay for the experience which can be a helpful résumé builder. However, Huff argues the program has an undeniable value. “It’s time spent by the students at USI,” he said. “Time well spent.” Every year Leadership Evansville recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations for their commitment to leadership in the community during its Celebration of Leadership event. This year, 26 winners were honored in a presentation held at Carter Hall on the USI campus on March 18. Written by Andrew Stanley, News & Information Services intern. |
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