MSU鈥檚 National Pan-Hellenic Council impacting lives of local elementary students through new mentorship program
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥旂哿κ悠碘檚 National Pan-Hellenic Council is partnering with Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary School on a new mentorship program that is impacting the lives of students from both institutions.
NPHC President Eric D. Lucas Jr., a junior biological engineering/biomedical engineering major from Ocean Springs, organized the mentorship program over the summer with Kristina Brown of the Henderson Ward Stewart Parent Teacher Organization, and Paige Phillips, an assistant principal at the school.
鈥淭he teachers there are doing a great job, and they wanted to have more positive African-American role models for the kids since a high percentage of the student population is African-American,鈥 Lucas said. 鈥淣PHC has eight historically black, Greek-letter organizations, so Kristina reached out and asked if we could come volunteer at the school.鈥
Begun a month ago, the mentorship program is making a difference in the lives of more than 33 mentors and mentees. In addition to one-hour individual meetings once a week, mentors and mentees meet every Friday to talk and play games during two-hour group sessions. Mentors can commit more time, based on availability and teacher permission.
Lucas said the program bridges the gap between community and school. 鈥淭he students we mentor are great kids,鈥 Lucas said. 鈥淲e want to reach them on their level and show them that we鈥檙e successful in college, and they can be, too.鈥
Lucas said the program is helping some students with behavioral issues. Others are behind on benchmark scores for reading and math, and need extra help that the NPHC students can provide.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been a big dreamer, but I guess I took that for granted until I started with this mentorship program,鈥 Lucas said. 鈥淢any of these students did not know they were capable of literally anything they put their minds to, so it鈥檚 great to be in a position where we are really changing their lives simply by being there for them. It鈥檚 been humbling.鈥
MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt commended NPHC student members and leaders for their efforts, which are 鈥渕aking a difference in the lives of the kids who have the opportunity to be mentored, tutored and coached.鈥
鈥淣PHC鈥檚 partnership with Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary School is an outstanding example of the outreach our student organizations conduct with our local community,鈥 Hyatt said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to see the benefits our students also are receiving from the interactions they are having with the kids.鈥
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