TEMPLE, Texas — Temple Independent School District’s Wildcat Mentor program kicked off its 17th year of service as the program hosted its annual Wildcat Mentor kickoff event on Thursday (October 1) at the Ralph Wilson Youth Club. The Wildcat Mentor program pairs students with volunteers from the community and school district to provide companionship, support, and positive role models.
More than 100 TISD fourth and fifth graders met their new mentors at the Kickoff event. Thursday’s event is designed to give mentors a chance to meet their students for the first time and share a meal and some fun while getting to know each other in a relaxed setting. Students and their mentors played basketball and volleyball in the gym, tried out the foosball, pool, and ping-pong tables, or even competed in the youth club’s video game room during the event. There were also craft-making stations and photo booths for the mentors and mentees to try.
“Temple ISD serves a wide range of students, and so many of our kids could really benefit from having an adult in their corner who really cares about them and helping them reach their full potential,” said Terris Goodwin, Chair of the Wildcat Mentor board, and now in her sixth year with the program. “It is really neat to see the evolution of the students in this program. You get to see the students struggle and go through some tough times but then come out on the other side of that. It is very rewarding to be able to be their cheerleader. Here is an opportunity to actually act and help put students on the right path.”
Wildcat Mentors are expected to spend at least two hours a month with their student and the program’s mission is to develop one-on-one relationships and support efforts to empower students to make positive choices enabling them to maximize their personal potential. The program also serves to provide students with regular and consistent contact with trusted adults, emphasize the value of learning and provide academic support, encourage educational and vocational exploration, and provide information about opportunities in higher education. Many of the mentors return to the program year after year and those volunteers seem to benefit almost as much as the students they are mentoring. In fact, they say the program makes a lasting impact on everyone who participates, regardless of their role.
“There is such a need for this program and the community joining together with us to serve these students wins up being such a blessing,” said Yara Thomas, coordinator of student support for Temple ISD and a member of the Wildcat Mentor board. “We have a need for more mentors, especially males. Make every moment count – mentor a TISD student and change a life forever! Giving up a little time is worth it, but it is so rewarding to see the impact you can make on a student’s life while they are also making an impact on your life.”
Wildcat Mentors still has room for additional volunteers to serve as mentors, especially males. The program will continue to accept applications for this year until October 30th. To learn more about the Wildcat Mentor program or to volunteer to serve as a mentor, visit the program’s page on the Temple ISD website at the following link: WILDCAT MENTORS – Wildcat Mentors – Temple Independent School District (tisd.org). Persons interested in serving as mentors may also reach out to Yara Thomas at [email protected] or by phone at (254) 215-6957. The program has additional students it could serve this year if additional volunteers sign up to serve as mentors. Volunteers wishing to be mentors will undergo background checks before being approved to work with students.