Making Mentors:  Center Point volunteers aim to make a difference
January 7, 2007, Gainesville Times (Georgia)

By ASHLEY COX

When Sherry Rogers visits the Strickland sisters at White Sulphur Elementary School, they know they're in for a treat.

Octavia Strickland, 11, likes reading with "Miss Sherry" best. Monique, 9, excels at addition flash cards.

"I like to do math," Octavia said.

Rogers herself simply enjoys spending time with the girls. She has been a mentor through the Center Point Mentor Program for four years.

"I've gotten a lot more out of it than any of these kids could ever get," Rogers said.

The program helps adults form a bond with children, she said. But it's good for adults, too. Center Point's mentor program was established in 1994 as a way to connect adults and children in the community.

"We see our program as an extension of student services," said Kate Hoffmann, mentor coordinator for Center Point.

Center Point recruits interested adults to volunteer as a mentor. Each volunteer must provide two references, receive two hours of training and pass a background check.

The organization matches each adult with a student who shares similar interests. Volunteers can choose what age group of children they would like to work with, as well as the school.

Being a mentor doesn't take much time.

"We ask that people volunteer an hour of their time a week," Hoffmann said. That hour includes travel time to and from the school.

So what does a mentor do with their student?

Tutoring is one possibility, but Hoffmann said many volunteers enjoy playing games or shooting hoops with the children.

"The emphasis is on the relationship," she said. "It's building that relationship with the child, one week at a time."

Rogers' activities with the four children she mentors varies from reading and math to polishing each other's nails and eating biscuits from the Rabbittown Cafe.

Hoffmann said research has shown that mentoring a student once a week through a school-based program has a positive impact on the life of the child.

She said students who have been mentored weekly are more likely to prepare for, attend and remain longer in college.

"It's not a magic fix. It doesn't happen overnight," Hoffmann said. "But you certainly do see changes when you just hang in there with a child."

Rogers has seen the positive results of mentoring firsthand.

Octavia Strickland was recently given an award from Gainesville State College for making all A's and B's on her report card.

"It made me feel good," she said.

January is National Mentoring month, and Center Point is rolling out a new ad-campaign stressing the need for mentors in a child's life.

The slogan: "Be someone's hero. Be a mentor."

Center Point has placed 102 mentors this school year, but they need more.

"We have a waiting list at almost every school," Hoffmann said.

Rogers said the time she volunteers with her students is worth it.

"It's really changed my life," she said.

Throughout her years as a mentor, Rogers has formed close bonds with each of her students, and plans to continue that relationship as they go through their school careers.

"I'll keep the same ones as long as I can," she said.

Contact: acox@gainesvilletimes.com, (770) 718-3426.