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USF Sarasota-Manatee and Braden River High School students celebrate successful first year of unique Mentoring Program 

Students at Braden River High School and USF Sarasota-Manatee received awards for their involvement in a unique mentoring program.

SARASOTA, FL (May 22, 2006) – On May 17, USF Sarasota-Manatee celebrated the end of the first year for a new Mentoring Program aimed at students with disabilities -- with food, trivia and a team-building project for the student mentors from Braden River High School. 

Students at the event received awards for their efforts, made a presentation about their experiences throughout the year and listened to speeches by previous USF students and Dr. Laurey Stryker, Campus CEO. 

“An idea doesn’t come to fruition until you get involved,” Stryker told the students.  “Our real motive is not only to help you with mentoring, but that someday you will be mentors for USF.  We are prepared to work very closely with students who have special needs.”

The Mentoring Program, which began in the fall of 2005, was the brainchild of Dr. Phyllis Jones, assistant professor of special education at USF Sarasota-Manatee.  In the program, two students with disabilities from USF Sarasota-Manatee mentored 12 students with disabilities at Braden River High School, whom in turn mentored children with disabilities from Bashaw Elementary.  

The USF students received a training course in mentoring and met with the high school students weekly.  Then twice a week the high school students traveled to Bashaw Elementary to help students with math, writing, sports and social skills. 

Even though she came up with the idea for the program, Jones is reluctant to take the credit for its success. 

“The program has a shared ownership, which is the reason it does so well,” she said.  “Our management committee has helped the program to succeed.” 

Many of the high school students will return to the program, and four USF Sarasota-Manatee students have already signed up to be mentors for next year’s program.  Jones hopes to attract some funding to enable it to grow and be sustainable.  This year, funding came from the Manatee County School District and the Florida Inclusion Network. 

“Bashaw Elementary students are fortunate to have the Braden River High School students and USF providing extra support in academics,” said Nancy Goux, assistant principal at Bashaw Elementary.  “They are a great example that if you do your best, you can be almost anything.” 

For more information about the Mentoring Program, please call Dr. Phyllis Jones at (941) 359-4628 or visit www.sarasota.usf.edu.  

USF Sarasota-Manatee is an upper-level campus for people with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree who are interested in getting a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit.  The regional campus offers the prestige of a national Research 1 university with the convenience of a hometown campus, including classes in south Sarasota County at the Manatee Community College Venice site.