Newspapers / Winston-Salem State University Student … / Nov. 1, 2003, edition 1 / Page 2
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umucjuiuiiuu^ juii The News Argus, November 2003 They need positive influences outside of school figures to try to steer them in the right direction," - Latoya Deschamps, Women's Bowling Team Role Models Student-athletes team up with local high-school youth Photos by Janell J. Lewis Farren Whitehead (front) and Lattice Jowers (back right) sit in math class. Both are members of the Ram Buddies/Ladies in the House program. The Lady Rams will assist 19 other female students with various sub jects. By Janell J. Lewis Argus News Editor A faculty member guided by the principle that each one should teach one has initi ated a mentoring program that matcht*s women athletes at the uni versity with at-risk teenage girls at a kK’al high sch(X)l. Tonia Walker, the associate director of athletics and senior women's administrator, launched the iam Buddies/Ladies in the 1 douse program last month with 21 WSSU women athletes who have pledged to spend at least one hour per week with assigned ninth and tenth graders at Parkland High ScluK)l, "It's a mentoring program that allows for us to have st^me commu nity service efforts from our student athletes and it also gives us an opportunity to give back to some of the young females now," said Walker, who is the former volleyball coach. She added, "It's a way for us to befriend st>me of the girls at Parkland and let them know that they have st>meone they can con fide in and who they can trust." Ihe women athletes participating in the program have been recom mended by their coaches and mem bers of the administrative staff. "We kx)ked for those young ladies with high-quality leadership skills and mentoring skills," Walker said. The high schiH)l students mentored by the Kam Buddies are considered at- risk. More specifically. Walker said the students have been identified as having academic, behavioral and siK'ial challenges. Already, there is a request from Parkland for 20 additional volun teers, Walker said. The Ram Buddies eat lunch with their Parkland "sisters," accompany them to class and engage in other activi ties that establish trust. The goal is to show the tcH»nagers how to stay fcK'used, and help them develop strong, positive attitudes. Another goal of the mentoring program. Walker explained, is to intrixluce the high schcx)l students to the college atmosphere. This is the second year of the Ram Buddies program. Last year the pa)gram operated at Wiley Middle c-rhool. Karen Moming-Cain, a for mer teacher at Wiley, collabtirated with Walker in developing the mentoring project. However, Morning-Cain transferred to Parkland this year, so Walker decid ed to moved the program. Photos by Janell J. Lewis Dara Bess, a WSSU volleyball player, tutors “little sister” Janae Shavers. Dara volunteers weekly at Parkland High School as a Ram Buddy In hopes of keeping her buddy on the right track In school. Among the Lady Ram student- athletes are April Allison, Dara Bess, Jamila Dalton, Shannon Davis, Ebony Douglas, Janine Martin, Tiffany Tonkins, and Toya Vaughn. They are players on the volleyball, basketball, softball, and bowling teams. Janae Shavers, a 9th grader at Parkland, said "it's good because my sister is gone. I look forward to going places with her [Ram Buddyl and her helping me with my work." Latoya Deschamps, a physical education major and member of the women's bowling team, is also one of the mentors. She said the pro gram definitely fills a void in the lives of the teenage girls that they mentor. Said Deschamps: "They need positive influences outside of school figures to try to steer them in the right direction." >•!#* I- I.tutftvl M Photos by Janell J. Lewis Benlta Wicker (right) sits and reads a magazine with her “buddy” Asha Gray for the school- wide Stop, Drop and Read program.
Winston-Salem State University Student Newspaper
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