University of New England

UNE partners with the Consolidated School in Mentoring Program

For some University of New England (UNE) students, the classroom scenery can change pretty quickly. One minute the UNE students are in a large lecture hall filled with their fellow classmates, the next they are surrounded by colorful artwork and sitting next to a group of special youngsters who just greeted them with big hugs. This type of transformation is common for the UNE students who mentor at Consolidated School in Kennebunkport.

This spring semester, 47 UNE students served as mentors of local schoolchildren through the UNE College Community Mentoring Program (CCMP). Fifteen of these collegiate mentors made their way to Consolidated School once each week.

At this school for grades K-5, the mentors and school children met to work on class projects, as well as spend one-to-one time with each other. Through these weekly meetings lasting one to two hours, Consolidated and UNE students have formed great connections. Mentors are often welcomed with hugs and smiling faces.

One UNE mentor admits, "When I do have to leave, I am often convinced to stay just a few minutes longer."

Consolidated School Principal Katharine Pence has witnessed the collaboration between the school and UNE grow from its beginning in the spring of 2004 into a valuable support system for students and staff.

Pence acknowledges, "Community connections are part of what positively extends the school experience for our students, and staff as well. Having the UNE mentoring program at Consolidated School has been one of the best examples of those connections. It's clearly been a win-win for everyone involved."

CCMP, an extension of the UNE Citizenship Service Learning Center, began in the fall of 2003. In addition to Consolidated School, CCMP mentoring sites include the Northern York County YMCA 21 Club, Biddeford Middle School Alternative Education Program, Sea Road School of Kennebunk, Lincoln Middle School Project Safe and Smart of Portland, and Crossroads Youth Center of Saco.

During National Volunteer Week, April 17 - 23, the staff and supporters of CCMP thanked the mentors for their dedicated efforts and commitment to mentoring.

Student Mentors
Spring 2005 mentors are: Allison Bailey '05, Renee Bissonnette '08, Meagan Blodgett '07, Amanda Boetsch '07, Shelia Chester '06, Hannah Colton '07, Kari Cruanes '08, Rebecca DePriest '06, Michaela Doughty '05, Chelsea Eastman '06, Katherine Emert '06, Danielle Evans '08, Amanda Fenner '08, Danielle Ferrer '05, Stacey Gabriel '07, Meredith Geraghty '06, Joshua Gillman '05, and Kristen Goldthwaite '06.

Also, Renee Gomez '06, Megan Graichen '05, Sheena Hamner '08, Brien Hoye '06, Kristen James '07, Bryan Johns '08, Jessica Johnson '05, Kristen Kelly '08, Erin Kenney '06, Lisa Kneeland '05, Lisa Letourneau '05, Casey Macisso '06, Melissa Mailhot '05, Kelly McLain '08, Jennifer Morocho '08, Caitlin Olver '07, Samantha Peabody '05, Amanda Pothier '07, Kristina Pugliese '05, Nicole Reed '07, Annie Rice '06, Laura Roach '05, Teresa Ruiz, '06, Gordon Sevee '08, Julie Solomon '05, Jessi Staley '08, Julia Tomanio '08, Abbey Turner '08, and Andrea Weiss '07.

More Information
For further information about CCMP, visit the CCMP website at or contact Lisa Streit, Communities for Children and Youth AmeriCorps*VISTA, at (207) 283-0170 extension 2294.

(Press release issued April 25, 2005)