TeamMates Recognizes Chamber

TeamMates mentoring program, founded to provide support and encouragement for students, held its local appreciation social Monday, recognizing the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce with the Friends of TeamMates Award.

Accepting the award were Chamber Director Denise Wilkinson, Bev Arellano, chamber office coordinator, and Sandy Goble, communications director.

TeamMates President, Brad Sherman, said the trio gave the program a lot of assistance over the past year, providing a spot at Gold Rush, and other activities that helped provide much needed funding.

Sherman told the gathering the relationship between the groups made for a stronger program.

Sherman also used the social to introduce a new mission statement for the Sidney chapter. The statement, "To maintain a positive culture of mentoring with the majority of our matches meeting 24 or more times a year."

The new statement, Sherman said, reflects a changing focus within the Sidney group, moving from having large numbers of participants to making sure the partnerships fit well.

"We used to be about numbers," Sherman said. "But we want to make sure the time students spend with mentors is good time."

Not that more mentor/student matches wouldn't be welcome. Currently, the program has 111 matches. But the need is still great, as about 50 more students have applied but don't have mentors yet.

"We'd love to have more volunteers," Sherman said. "Right now we have a great need."

He encouraged those attending to let people know about the need, hoping as the word spreads, there will be a chance for more matches.

To be a part of TeamMates, both mentors and students apply to be part of the program. After approval, matches are made based on similar interests, and mentors spend an hour a week, usually during lunchtime, interacting. Sherman said those interactions range from just talking to basketball, video games, model building, or whatever activity the pair decides.

"It's putting one more positive role model into kids' lives," Sherman said. For mentors, "it's super rewarding," and Sherman said "the kids really look forward to it."

Young people wishing to join can express their interest through a guidance councilor at school, and adults can begin the process through the program Website, http://www.teammates.org.