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Why I Mentor

Oklahomans in every corner of the state are volunteering time each week to make a difference in a child's life. The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has asked some of these mentors to share their experiences.

Wentz J. Miller Jr., currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for INTEGRIS Health. Prior to joining INTEGRIS in October of 1998, Miller worked for Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in several capacities, including Market and Division Chief Financial Officer in Nashville, and as the Chief Financial Officer for Tulane University Hospital and Clinic in New Orleans.

Why is mentoring important to you?
Mentoring provides an opportunity for me to show support for the teachers, staff and students of our charter school, Western Village Academy. I also get to regularly work with individual students to make some small contribution to their education by focusing on areas such as reading or math, where the student may be struggling.

How or why did you become involved?
I became involved with Western Village when my employer, INTEGRIS Health, made the commitment to operate this as a charter school. We have an organizational objective to provide a mentor for every student that wants one. As a member of management, I felt personally compelled to mentor.

How have you personally benefited from mentoring?
I get a feeling of personal satisfaction from my regular visits with my student to help them with their schoolwork and also be an adult friend. I believe that the students appreciate us as mentors and look forward to our visits. I personally enjoy the big, bright smiles when I walk in the classroom.

Give an example of an activity you have shared with your mentee.
In addition to working on school subjects that the student may need help with, I try to find time to play board games or, if the weather is good, shoot basketball or throw a football with my student.