Wildcat Youth Mentor program expandsLifeWise Community Press Releases: Mar 18, 2005
|
||
BARRINGTON University of New Hampshire students are making mentoring work well, as Bruce A. Montville EE proudly says, "UNH students are the best!" According to Montville, CEO of a private nonprofit, LifeWise Community Projects, Inc., the 32 Wildcat Youth Mentors (WYM) have expanded their program to provide mentoring services at four locations within only two years of the program’s inception. WYM is involved in reducing the student drop-out rate at Oyster River High School, Barrington Middle School and Newmarket Junior High. This January, the Seymour Osman Community Center (SOCC) in Dover was also added to the mentoring program. At LifeWise’s quarterly board meeting held Sunday, Montville said that WYM uses the school-based method. UNH students spend an hour at a specific time and school, one-on-one, every week with their new teen friends. "Our efforts focus on the whole person, not just academics," said WYM Kate Palmer, a junior electrical engineering student at UNH and mentor at SOCC. Palmer also noted that mentors can address issues as they arise and be effective role models. The SOCC runs a unique program that identifies Dover High School students labeled at risk early on, in order to get them back on track. Adding mentoring to the abundance of activities offered, helps students achieve a higher rate of success in completing high school. Mentoring is beneficial to the collegians, as well as the mentees, as Palmer said she looks forward to going every week. Many UNH students arrive with high school backgrounds in leadership and volunteer work. They continue to seek out these same opportunities while in college. Because of their efforts, the WYM program is flourishing. "Actually we must have been hit with March Madness, as UNH students are still continuing to sign on," said Montville. Additionally, just this month, requests for WYM help have come from a local area recreation department and a community police organization. For further information contact 929-0832 or bmontville@lifewise-nh.org |
| Projects |
| Partnerships |
| News |
| Press Releases |
| Photo Galleries |
| Honor Rolls |
| Links |
| Search |
| Contact Us |
| Officers |
| About Us |
| Home |
Bruce A. Montville EE
President & CEO
President & CEO