IU Southeast, Big Brothers Big Sisters launch School to Work mentoring program for Clarksville High School students
NEW ALBANY, Ind. (Oct 25, 2024) — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana (BBBSKY), in partnership with Indiana University Southeast (IUS), on Friday launched a brand-new School to Work mentoring program for students at Clarksville High School.
In School to Work, IUS faculty, staff, and alumni volunteer as Mentors to be matched with Clarksville High School sophomores (known as Scholars) and meet for once-per-month, 3-hour sessions. There are currently 9 IUS-Clarksville matches, and many more students ready to be matched.
Interested in joining the IUS School to Work cohort? Click the button to fill out your application.
Friday’s inaugural meeting saw matches make introductions, get to know each other, and compete in a ping pong ball catapult building contest. Scholars learned skills including non-verbal communication, teamwork, and leadership.
Clarksville High School students and IU Southeast faculty work together to build a catapult out of popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and spoons.
The School to Work program provides a unique opportunity for Mentors and Scholars alike, as matches spend time together in the host partner’s work environment.
“IU Southeast is a very special partner—in addition to being a workplace, it’s an institution of higher learning! By being on campus, Clarksville students are getting a firsthand preview of the college experience and connecting with staff members on a personal level,” said Patrick Erdley, School & Workplace Programs Manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana.
School to Work sessions provide Scholars with valuable exposure to professional workplace environments while they learn a variety of skills including relationship building, responsible decision making, financial education, and overall college and career readiness.
The IUS School to Work cohort is made possible by support from the Duke Energy Foundation.
“This is an amazing opportunity for high school students to spend time on a beautiful college campus and connect with mentors that can leave a life-long impact,” said Lisa Huber, Duke Energy government and community relations manager for Southern Indiana.
The cohort marks a major milestone for BBBSKY: it is the youth mentoring organization’s tenth School to Work program in the area. Other workplace partners include Heartland, Zoeller Pump Company, Republic Bank, and LG&E.
“All of us here at Big Brothers Big Sisters are thrilled to launch our IU Southeast School to Work cohort!” said Gary Friedman, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana. “These Clarksville High School students will experience the impact of having a positive mentoring relationship in their life, and we can’t wait to see how each mentor and student grows throughout the experience.”
Matches are made with intentionality by BBBSKY staff, ensuring Mentors and Scholars have shared interests and complementary personalities. All School to Work volunteer Mentors complete a background check, interview process, and safety training before being matched with their Scholar.
Volunteers are still needed for this program. Those interested in joining can apply here.
Thank you to our sponsors of the IUS School to Work program:
Lilly Endowment
First Savings Bank
Duke Energy