Contest announced to increase TeamMate mentor applicants

Tom Osborne, co-founder of the TeamMates mentoring program, has announced a new contest to increase mentor participation.

Osborne spoke of the benefits of the program at a press conference outside Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 29.

During the 2017-2018 school year, TeamMates served 9,437 students. Their vision is to reach 12,000 mentor-mentee matches by 2020.

New mentors who complete the online application process by Nov. 30 will be entered in a drawing for the chance to win one of three prizes:

• First—two airline tickets up to $500 anywhere in the continental US and a three-night hotel stay up to $350 per night. Provided by Travel and Transport

• Second— two airline tickets up to $500 anywhere in the continental US. Provided by Travel and Transport. 

• Third—lunch or dinner with Tom and Nancy Osborne and up to four guests.

Mentors who applied Aug. 1 to now also receive an entry into the drawing. 

Current mentors who nominate a new mentor through the TeamMates.org “nominate” tool will receive an entry if the nominee completes the application process by Nov. 30. 

Perkins County program

Going into it’s third year, the Perkins County Schools TeamMates program is now up to 42 mentor-mentee matches. Eleven new mentors have been added this year, five of whom qualify for the contest.  

Coordinator Larry Pritchett said they are still two male mentors short for new boys coming into the program. 

The PCS program began with 19 mentor-mentees in sixth through eighth grades, adding 10 last year. They’ve added ninth grade to the mix this year. 

Mentors and mentees meet weekly for 30 minutes. The focus ranges from helping with homework, to sharing a hobby or special interest, to simply sharing thoughts and ideas.

Pritchett said as the program grows, the community stays the same size, so the draw for mentors becomes smaller. Many schools have a waiting list.

Those wishing to apply to be a mentor may do so online at TeamMates.org. 

 

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

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