Tuesday, March 02, 2010
College Mentors point the way
Junior Derrick Jordan is a Big Buddy in USI's College Mentors For Kids program.
Contact for more information:
Jennifer Theriot Administrative Associate News & Information Services 812/465-7005 CMFK was founded in 1995 at Indiana University, and the USI chapter began in 2000. Each year, roughly 50 first through fourth graders from Culver Elementary School are chosen to participate and are paired with USI student mentors for weekly activities that focus on higher education, community service, and culture and diversity. Youth who participate in the program are referred to as "Little Buddies," and their college mentors are "Big Buddies." The Little Buddies are bused to USI each Tuesday after school to meet with their Big Buddies, and the pairs are encouraged to build ongoing positive relationships. "Just talking to the kids is a big part of it," says Jordan. "For some, it's the only time they have someone who will really listen." Some Big Buddies reach out to their Little Buddies beyond the weekly activities, attending recitals or sports events and keeping in touch after the program is over. According to Jordan, the most popular activity among Little Buddies is the slime activity. The group gathers in a science lab where chemistry professors show the students how to make their own slime a thick, gelatin-like substance that delights the children with its gooey texture and bright colors. "This shows the kids how science can be fun, and it gives them exposure to a college science classroom and professors," says Jordan. A trip to Burger King is another favorite activity. At the end of the year, the Big Buddies host a "graduation" for their Little Buddies, complete with caps and gowns. Monitoring the results of CMFK is an important part of the program. Big Buddies keep journals documenting weekly activities and child progress. At the end of each weekly activity, Little Buddies are asked to answer a "college question of the day" to help them grasp the idea of the activity and to assess the impact of the activity sessions. Jordan says that program evaluations consistently show that children involved in CMFK display progress in their grades and ISTEP (Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress) scores, have increased enthusiasm for academics, and show improved behavior in the classroom and at home. Most importantly, children who have been a part of CMFK have an awareness of higher education that makes it possible for them to develop future goals that include college and career. CMFK is also beneficial to the college students involved, because it gives them an opportunity to impact a child's life and serve the community in a positive way. USI students can become involved with CMFK in three ways. There are call-out sessions at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, and there is also open-application throughout the school year. Since buddy pairs are designated for the duration of the school year, students who join CMFK in the middle of the year may need to wait until the following school year to become a one-one-one mentor with a child. There is more information on the web , or interested students can contact the Multicultural Center at 812/465-7188. |
Copyright © 2013 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.
