By Kristy Lloyd

kristy@newsroom.byu.edu

Over 200 BYU students are going back to elementary school. Not to relearn arithmetic or social studies, but to mentor schoolchildren once a week.

The Provo School District mentoring program serves all three middle schools and most of the elementary schools.

"It's a wonderful service. It provides friendships and support and assists in the needs of the children," said Cathy Bledsoe, mentoring program coordinator since 1996.

Mentors visit students once a week for an hour to help with social skills, homework or other needs. Mentors are also important role models to these children.

Mentors "can be one more stable person in the life of a child that they can turn to and look up to," Bledsoe said.

"Many children in the program come from unstable homes," said Kristin Wilson, Joaquin Elementary School facilitator. "They need to have consistency."

And consistency is what they get.

"The BYU students are really good about coming regularly. Some of our elementary students can't remember when their homework is due, but they look forward to and remember the day and time when their mentors are coming. The kids really love it," Wilson said.

Volunteers for the program are mostly undergraduate BYU students, although BYU law students, local businesses and other community members are becoming involved as well.

Timpanogos Elementary School has a business partnership with Intermountain Health Care. Twelve employees take an hour a week to visit the schoolchildren.

The mentoring program is looking to form more business partnerships in the future.

The BYU Law School is also becoming involved. Over 80 students at Sunset View Elementary recently visited the law school campus and spent some time with the law students as part of the elementary school's mentor program.

The program isn't limited to students. Brent Horton, a recently retired Provo man, has seen notable academic improvements in the 11-year-old boy he mentors.

"I got involved to do some good and I can see improvements in his math and reading skills," Horton said.

Potential applicants must complete training and should contact Kristin Wilson at 374-4940 or Cathy Bledsoe at 375-8416 for more information.

"We are constantly looking for more applicants," Wilson said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 10 May 2000