TeamMates Mentoring program coming to Platte County

By Ton Winter twinter@pcrecordtimes.com
Posted 3/3/20

PLATTE COUNTY – Children are the future of our society, but too often, bright, promising kids fall by the wayside and don’t fulfill their potential as adults because their home life may not be the best environment. Or sometimes, they feel forgotten and give up.

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TeamMates Mentoring program coming to Platte County

Posted

PLATTE COUNTY – Children are the future of our society, but too often, bright, promising kids fall by the wayside and don’t fulfill their potential as adults because their home life may not be the best environment. Or sometimes, they feel forgotten and give up.
Former Head football coach for the University of Nebraska, Dr. Tom Osborne, wanted to help at-risk kids and started what is now known as TeamMates mentoring.
Platte County educators, business owners and community leaders attended a lunchtime meeting at the Wheatland Middle School to hear Osborne speak about the TeamMates program. TeamMates started after Osborne asked his football players at the University of Nebraska to meet with middle school students in 1991. Osborne thought his athletes could inspire kids to not only stay in school and graduate, but to pursue higher education as well.
Of the 22 original mentees, 21 graduated from high school while one left school to go on a successful motocross tour. Eighteen earned some form of additional education. Since then, caring adults volunteer to be the mentors and the program has expanded across the Midwest.
Mentors are matched with a student and agree to see them once a week. Normally, it’s during the child’s lunch period. Sometimes, other outings are planned.
“You just have to show up so these kids know someone cares about them,” Osborne said.

TeamMates Executive Director Sarah Waldman explained how mentors benefit from the experience. She has mentored several students herself.
“I had a mentor tell me how she taught her mentee how to fly a kite. (The girl) had never flown one before so we went out and did it,” Waldman said. “We gain something too by helping these kids. Excitement and purpose – we go back to our jobs energized.”
Osborn told a story about his grandfather having a mentor who encouraged him to continue his education when few people in Nebraska went past the seventh grade. His grandfather graduated from college and became a minister. His grandfather then mentored others and the cycle continued.
Each mentee learns what it means to have someone outside their family care about them and grow up to give back to other kids. Some have even become mentors through the program.
Wyoming has a graduation rate of 86%, only slightly higher than the national average of 85%. That’s still a lot of kids falling through the cracks who could be helped by someone stepping up to take an interest in their life. Nebraska, where the program is based, has a graduation rate of 89%. In 2019, 95% of the TeamMates mentees graduated high school.
TeamMates also raises money to provide scholarships for mentees who wish to attend college.
The program is being instituted through Platte County School Districts Nos. 1 and 2. Any adult who wishes to become involved as a mentor may call Cory Dziowgo at Wheatland Middle School at (307) 322-1518 or Linda Victory at Guernsey-Sunrise school (307) 836-2745.
Qualifications for being a mentor include being over 18-years-old, have a high school degree or GED equivalent and a genuine concern for youth with a desire to help. Other volunteer opportunities are available and donations for the program would be appreciated.
Testimonials and additional information may be found on their website: www.teammates.org.
Osborne contributed the success of the program with, “We give them hope, that’s the most important thing.”