College mentors honored
College Mentors for Kids member Sheetal Gogate assists one of the “little buddies” with a project.
By Ashley Keihn | Staff Writer
The University of Indianapolis chapter of College Mentors for Kids recently received the 2009 Chapter of the Year Award. The program was selected from 21 chapters in Indiana and Illinois.
Chapter President Curtis Ward said he and the members of CMFK see the award as an honor.
“We are very excited to have won this very competitive award. A lot of the other chapters, such as Purdue, serve around 100 ‘little buddies’ or more, and we only serve around 60,” Ward said. “We hope to take the momentum from this and apply it to next year.”
Next year, the chapter is planning to expand to serve kids in the first through fifth grades as well as seventh and eighth graders from a local middle school.
“College Mentors for Kids takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours and includes snacks, a book of the week, as well as a speaker from different career fields,” Ward said.
Ward also said that all activities in the program relate back to the central theme of college.
“Each student has a journal as well, to reflect upon the day to make sure they understand college as well as the different majors and careers,” Ward said.
As a result of some projected additional students next year, the program will meet three times a week instead of two, to better serve all involved. The chapter also hopes to expand from 60 “little buddies” to 90.
“The program was founded here at UIndy in 1998 and serves students from two different IPS schools in first through fourth grade,” Ward said. “The main goal of the program is to expose children at an early age from at-risk families to inspire them and encourage them to go to college.”
Ward also said the program serves to show the children possible opportunities for their futures.
“We want to show them [the “little buddies”] that anybody can go to college. Our activities are centered on higher education, culture and diversity, as well as community service,” Ward said.
Junior and two-year member, Michael Connolly said the organization’s impact on the students and the “little buddies” is visible on a daily basis.
“Seeing their eyes light up as they get off the bus is the best and most gratifying part of it all. I joined to make a difference in a child’s life, to show them different opportunities and the college life. A lot of kids think that college is just about sports,” Connolly said. “But in my opinion, two days a week is not enough time. They love coming here and being involved. It gives them something to look forward to each week and they get to know their mentors.”
The biggest fundraiser for the College Mentors for Kids is the annual Walk for Kids, which took place on March 28, downtown on the canal for two hours. Mentors were required to attend and encouraged to put together a team. Each team raised money, and prizes were given for the biggest team and most money raised.
Last year, the UIndy chapter raised approximately $4,000-$4,500 and hopes to raise even more this year for the organization. This event has one of the biggest turnouts for the year. This is the eighth walk for the UIndy chapter.
University of Indianapolis College Mentors for Kids President Curtis Ward and member Danielle Devalk talk to “little buddies” Jose Garcia and Daniel Morales about their projects. UIndy’s chapter of the after school program for children was awarded Chapter of the Year for 2009 out of 21 Indiana and Illinois programs.
