OFE News Release
2004-05 Schusterman Mentors Recognized
July 15, 2004
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thirty-six young adults
recently completed a semester or more of volunteer service as Schusterman
Mentors, providing academic support and encouragement to elementary school
students in five Oklahoma communities.
The Schusterman Mentor Program, coordinated by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence with funding from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation (www.schusterman.org), matches former Academic All-State Scholars with students at targeted elementary schools in NORMAN, OKLAHOMA CITY, TULSA, STILLWATER and WEATHERFORD.Mentors commit to spending at least one hour each week meeting one-on-one with an assigned elementary student.
The Foundation for Excellence is a non-profit, charitable organization that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. Each year, the foundation presents Academic All-State Scholarships to 100 of the Oklahoma’s best and brightest public high school seniors. Through the Schusterman program, All-State alumni have had an opportunity to continue their affiliation with the foundation by volunteering as mentors and making a difference in the lives of children who are academically at risk.
“Each Schusterman Mentor naturally functions as both a tutor -- providing academic support and modeling academic achievement -- and as a friend, providing the child with a stable relationship to an adult he or she can trust,” said Program Coordinator Paige Johnson, a 1987 Academic All-Stater from Collinsville. “The pair may read a book, build a volcano for science class, work on math homework, or talk through life issues -- but always they build bonds that continue to resonate through the lives of both mentor and child alike.”
In some schools, mentors are given selected activities to assist their students in areas of specific need, Johnson said. In other schools, mentors are encouraged to develop their own activities and lesson plans. “While this is difficult for some mentors, it has led to the most creative and individual projects, such as making dioramas to illustrate book themes, investigating rocketry or writing in journals,” she said.
Laura Goeller, a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus from Jay, served this year as a volunteer at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater. She was paired with a child who needed extra help with her handwriting, math and reading skills. “My student and I have done numerous activities to improve those areas, including playing with beads and making a book about her summer vacation,” Goeller said. “I cannot tell you how much I look forward to mentoring each week.”
Misty Williams, a 1999 All-Stater from Eakly, recalls helping her mentee at Weatherford’s East Elementary School tackle an intimidating science assignment. “I could tell she didn’t want to do it, but we grabbed the book and got started. Pretty soon, another student came over for help, and we were having a great learning discussion about the food chain and how to read the chart! For the first time, I felt like I actually ‘taught’ something … and they got it.”
Now entering its fourth year, the Schusterman Mentor Program is gaining momentum and continuity, Johnson said. All of the 2004 mentors who are not moving or graduating from college plan to volunteer again next fall. In addition, plans are under way for a combined All-State alumni reunion and mentor orientation event.
“Mentoring programs can provide underachieving students the personal boost that can help them achieve academic success,” Johnson said. “Through their involvement in such a program, Academic All-State alumni have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to Oklahoma education.”
For more information on the Schusterman Mentors Program, contact Paige Johnson at (918) 809-5070 or the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence at (405) 236-0006.
BENNINGTON – Sarah Cook is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a sophomore majoring in biosystems engineering at Oklahoma State University. She volunteered at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater.
CHECOTAH – Aaron and Allen Beaver, twin brothers and 2003 Academic All-State alumni, both served as Schusterman Mentors at Madison Elementary School in Norman. Aaron is a sophomore predentistry major, while Allen is a sophomore pre-pharmacy student at the University of Oklahoma.
COLLINSVILLE – Paige Johnson, a 1987 Academic All-Stater, is coordinator of the Schusterman Mentors Program. She is also a mentor at Celia Clinton Elementary School in Tulsa.
DUNCAN – Natalie Berning is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology at Oklahoma State University. She volunteered at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater.
EAKLY – Misty Williams, a 1999 Academic All-State alumnus, is pursuing her master’s degree in educational administration at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She volunteered at East Elementary School in Weatherford.
EDMOND – Travis Kirk, a 2002 Academic All-Stater, is a junior history major at the University of Oklahoma. He volunteered at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
Zach Pinson, a 2001 Academic All-Stater, is attending the University of Oklahoma. He is a Schusterman Mentor at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
ELGIN – Carmen Mattingly, a 2003 Academic All-Stater, is attending the University of Oklahoma. She volunteered at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
ENID – Maggie Taylor is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a sophomore prepharmacy major at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She volunteered at East Elementary School in Weatherford.
JAY – Laura Goeller, a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and junior majoring in nutrition and pre-medicine at Oklahoma State University, volunteered at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater.
KINGFISHER – Melissa Hunt is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a sophomore prepharmacy major at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She volunteered at East Elementary School in Weatherford.
LAMONT – Ruth Bobbitt is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a sophomore majoring in agricultural communications at Oklahoma State University. She mentored at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater.
MUSKOGEE – Robin Guthrie is a 2000 Academic All-State alumnus and a senior journalism major at the University of Oklahoma. She mentored at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
MOUNDS – David Spring is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a junior at the University of Oklahoma. He mentored at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
NORMAN – Sixteen University of Oklahoma students recently completed a semester or more of service as Schusterman Mentors at Madison Elementary School in Norman. The mentors are Aaron Beaver of Checotah; Allen Beaver of Checotah; Ting Chen of Horseheads, N.Y.; Jeremy Fried of Shawnee; Robin Guthrie of Muskogee; Erika Hime of Detroit, Texas; Courtney King of Vian; Travis Kirk of Edmond, Crystal Lohmann of Norman; Carmen Mattingly of Elgin; Meryl McDowell of Norman; Kirtan Nautiyal of Tulsa; Cheryl Onwuchuruba of Edmond; Elizabeth Pletan of Owasso; Zach Pinson of Edmond; David Spring of Mounds; and Nika Spaulding of Oklahoma City. Norman residents Lohmann and McDowell are both 2000 Academic All-State alumnae.
OKARCHE – Vanessa Vogt is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a sophomore prepharmacy major at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She volunteered at East Elementary School in Weatherford.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Cassandra Duncan is a 2002 Academic All-Stater and a junior biochemistry major at the University of Tulsa. She volunteers at Celia Clinton Elementary School in Tulsa.
Justin Evans is an attorney and law clerk for U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange. Though he is not an All-State alumnus, he recently completed his second year volunteering at Crutcho Elementary School in east Oklahoma City.
Lori Fagan is a 1990 Academic All-State alumnus and a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange. She mentors at Crutcho Elementary School in east Oklahoma City.
Nika Spaulding is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a sophomore zoology major at the University of Oklahoma. She mentors at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
OWASSO – Elizabeth Pletan, a 2003 Academic All-Stater, is attending the University of Oklahoma. She volunteered at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
PONCA CITY – Michael Gamble is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a junior majoring in chemical engineering and economics at Oklahoma State University. He volunteered at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater.
SHAWNEE Jeremy Fried is a 2002 Academic All-State alumnus and a senior journalism and philosophy major at the University of Oklahoma. He volunteered as Madison Elementary School in Norman.
SAND SPRINGS – John Morelli is a 2001 Academic All-State alumnus and a 2004 graduate of Oklahoma State University, who earned degrees in math and economics. He mentored at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater.
STILLWATER – Nine Oklahoma State University students served as Schusterman Mentors at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater. They are Natalie Berning of Duncan, Ruth Bobbitt of Lamont, Sarah Cook of Bennington, Michael Gamble of Ponca City, Valerie and Kelsey Gillen of Woodward, Laura Goeller of Jay, John Morelli of Sand Springs and Toby Rockefeller of Stillwater.
TULSA – Carrie Hall of Tulsa volunteers at Celia Clinton Elementary School. She is a Schusterman program mentor, though not an Academic All-State alumnus.
Paige Johnson, a 1987 Academic All-Stater from Collinsville, is coordinator of the Schusterman Mentors Program. She is a mentor at Celia Clinton Elementary School in Tulsa.
Kirtan Nautiyal is a 2003 Academic All-State alumnus and a student at the University of Oklahoma. He mentors at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
VIAN – Courtney King is a 2001 Academic All-State alumnus and a junior marketing major at the University of Oklahoma. She mentors at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
WEATHERFORD – Serving as mentors at East Elementary School were Southwestern Oklahoma State University students Melissa Hunt of Kingfisher, Maggie Taylor of Enid, Misty Williams of Eakley and Vanessa Vogt of Okarche.
Also serving as a Schusterman Mentor at East Elementary was Chip Diffendaffer, a 1996 Academic All-State alumnus and web manager for Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Diffendaffer, who is one of the foundation’s most active alumni, will serve as assistant coordinator of the Schusterman Mentor Program for 2004-05.
WOODWARD – Kelsey and Valerie Gillen volunteered at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater. Kelsey is a 2001 Academic All-Stater and a senior majoring in marketing and music at Oklahoma State University. Her sister, Valerie, is a 2003 All-Stater and a sophomore majoring in secondary education and English at OSU.
HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – Ting Chen is a 2002 Academic All-State alumnus and a student at the University of Oklahoma. She mentors at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
DETROIT, TEXAS – Erika Hime, a 2003 Academic All-Stater, is a sophomore majoring in zoology and biomedical sciences at the University of Oklahoma. She was a volunteer mentor at Madison Elementary School in Norman.
CONTACT:
Brenda Wheelock,
OFE Communications Director
(405) 236-0006; e-mail bwheelock@ofe.org