Reporter-News Archives Sunday, August 31, 1997 College students to mentor school children By JOHN STARBUCK / Abilene Reporter-News Mentoring a child during this school year is going to allow Elizabeth John to recover a piece of her past, which at times included a lack of friendship. John was one of several college students attending an orientation session Saturday for a mentoring program sponsored by Home Team, a nonprofit agency that is trying to be an advocate to families striving for economic self-sufficiency. "When I was younger, after my mom got divorced, we were very poor," said the Hardin-Simmons University junior from Houston, "and I could have used something like this. "I could have used someone to come and spend time with me and take me places and encourage me in my life." The 50 students from Abilene's three universities, who are being paired with 25 children from underprivileged families, will be given a lot of freedom as they attempt to serve as positive role models. "We require that they make a weekly visit," said John Wayne Rosson, founder of Home Team, "and then we offer accountability on a bi-weekly basis to check on their progress and the progress that is being made with the child and the family." The mentors are being encouraged to help their new friends with their studies, and take them on outings and to their college campus. Having college students serve as adult role models should have a big impact on the children who range in age from 7 to 16, said Dr. Tom Copeland, professor of psychology at HSU and Home Team director. "One of the things that we know is that kids are really influenced at an early age with regard to the decisions that they'll make later," said Copeland. "I think there's a really good chance that some of these children will be influenced by these college students into, we hope, considering higher education, whereas maybe they haven't been thinking about going to college." Sarah Fambrough, an HSU senior from Abilene, said working with the youngsters will illustrate to her peers the importance of volunteering. "I think it's going to be a really good program for college students to reach out in the community and get to know the community a lot better." It also will give the children a brighter outlook on life. "They have so many needs," said Fambrough, "and a lot of times the parents can't meet all those needs, so maybe we can step in and help them out."     Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story Send the URL (Address) of This Story to A Friend: Enter their email address below: texnews.com Reporter OnLine Local Sports Texas Sports Copyright ©1997, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications