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LCC Teammates Chapter celebrating big month

LAUREL— The Laurel-Concord-Coleridge Teammates chapter has a lot to celebrate. 

Having tripled in size within the past year, the program is well on its way to obtaining a goal set in 2017 — to serve 120 youth. 

Currently, there are 108 mentees (students) grades 5-12 in LCC Teammates. 

Of those mentees, 93 are matched - the other 15 are waiting for a Mentor. The chapter’s success is due to the dedication and volunteerism of the chapter’s mentors. 59 mentors yield 64 matches in the middle school while 24 mentors produce 29 matches in the high school. 

Eight of the chapter’s mentors have more than one mentee. 

Ron Hirschman is one of those multiple-mentee-mentors. He joined the chapter last year and was matched with a then junior in high school. 

This past fall Ron took on a second mentee, a sixth grader. 

Hirschman is enjoying the chance to share his knowledge and get to know these students.

“It is a lot of fun and interesting to see the two different personalities in them,” he said. 

He meets with his mentees during study hall and after school. 

“Some weeks it doesn’t work to meet for either myself or the boys but we always find a way to catch up. The boys know I’ll find a way to meet them,’’ Hirschman said. 

You can find Hirschman and other mentors playing board games, shooting baskets, making crafts, baking, talking, and sharing lunch with their mentees. 

“It helps me get to know the younger generation and what they are up to. I can see if I can help them out in any way I can,” he said.

Hirschman illustrates the program’s motto by simply ‘Being There.’

“It pleases me to see the big smiles on their faces,” he said.

The program is great for the students and the community, he said.

“It makes a great bond with young adults,” he said. 

Later this month, Hirschman along with the chapter’s mentors, mentees, and board members can be found at their Taco in a Bag Fundraiser at the Wakefield home basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 30. 

The free will donations raised aid in providing local chapter scholarships for graduating Teammate Mentees. 

Currently, raffle tickets are being sold voluntarily by mentors and mentees for a chance to win an autographed Husker framed poster, Husker football and Husker Historical Book which will be drawn for during the game. The chapter’s mentors will be recognized during halftime of the girls game. 

Another upcoming event is a Teammates Night at the Wayne State Basketball game Saturday, Feb. 15. Wayne State will graciously admit Teammates Mentors and Mentees to that game at no charge. 

Local chapters are invited to make this a Northeast Teammates event. Currently, eight other chapters will attend along with LCC. To find out how to impact the life of a youth by giving the gift of time, apply online at Teammates.org or contact Coordinators: Alan Gottula or Shawna Ranslem at LCC School.

Northeast Nebraska News Company

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