CHS launches mentoring program

On Friday, October 5, the Community Foundation for Cloud County sponsored a luncheon for the new Concordia High School Mentors.
The program, led by Concordia Middle School counselor Brandt Hutchinson, brought together community members who volunteer their time to meet with high school students.
The program divides students into groups of 10-11 students and two mentors. The mentors will stay with their group until graduation.
The mentor groups discuss various life skills topics, including financial responsibility, workforce skills, healthy relationships, career/job paths, and interview skills.
“We believe that the more positive role models our young people have in their lives, the better," Hutchinson said. "This helps reinforce intrinsic values that are not only being taught by parents, but also by our teachers.”
Some of the volunteers have signed on for four years because their groups will consist of ninth grade students.
Senior mentors will be given the opportunity to sign up again next year for the following freshmen class.
“We have 54 volunteers who are willing to take time out of their day to help grow our young people," Hutchinson said. "This is incredibly unselfish of them, especially when many of them will be in the program for multiple years.”
Hutchinson added that he hoped the mentoring program was just the beginning of new ways to bring the school and the community together.
“The most genuine and caring network we all have, is the network built in the community we come from and live in," Hutchinson said. "One of our goals is to intertwine the Concordia generations to provide opportunities for our young people. This network also has benefits for our Alumni and Friends by providing quality workers, and even potential succession plans."
To follow the new mentoring program, visit the Concordia, KS Alumni and Friends Facebook page.