Mentoring program helps students excel

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katherine Windish
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Students having difficulty in math and reading are receiving help from Airmen with the start of a new mentorship program at the Aviano Elementary School.

The program matches a volunteer with a student scoring in the lower percentage of the Terra Nova standardized test. The tutor attends training and meets with the student's family to establish a one-on-one tutoring schedule, focusing on the areas the student is having the most trouble in.

"Tutoring often lends itself quite naturally to mentoring," said Bernadine Welke, mentorship program coordinator. "During the course of a tutoring session, a bond of trust is established and dialogue between mentor and mentee may also begin."

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Love, 31st Contracting Squadron infrastructure NCOIC and mentor, was matched with fifth-grader Kishaun Kimble. Together they spend one hour per week, working on math problems.

"This is a great kid," Welke said. "He has a great future; he just needs someone to sit with him and help him move forward."

Volunteer mentors are needed to both tutor and assist elementary school teachers with a variety of tasks. To volunteer, call the Aviano Elementary School at DSN 632-5677.