Teammates of Holdrege Recieves Award For Outstanding Program

Article posted on the Holdredge Public Schools Webage.

TeamMates of Holdrege was the recipient of the 2009-10 Outstanding TeamMates Program Award for the Western Region at the TeamMates Partnership Meeting in Lincoln on July 27th.

The following tribute was announced (The tribute was on the large framed plaque that Mary Schneider is holding). The Holdrege program has been strong and steady since day one of existence. With a board that is passionate, teamed up with coordinators that are committed, and school and community that is supportive, this program has had the ingredients for success from the beginning! Holdrege TeamMates has done a fabulous job developing a "culture of mentoring" in their community. The board and coordinators work hard providing extra activities and events to give matches the opportunity to spend more time together, which is part of the reason why their matches are strong and of good quality. The other part is the care given to make good matches based on interests. Thank you Holdrege, you are a program to look up to!

Jean Berreckman and Mary Schneider were very excited to receive this award. "It is worth every minute of time that we have put in the program. We currently have 53 student mentees matched up with 53 adult mentors in grades sixth through eighth. We are in need of more adults to volunteer to be mentors to our new group of fifth grade students here at Holdrege Middle School", said Jean Berreckman (co-oordinator of the TeamMates program). "We have a very supportive administration and TeamMates Advisory board that has been instrumental in getting us started," said Mary Schneider (co-oordinator of TeamMates program).

A TeamMates Mentor is someone who provides a young person with support, friendship, and a positive example. TeamMates asks that you make a commitment of meeting with your student mentee for one hour a week in a school setting for a minimum of one year. When you meet with your mentor you may have lunch, talk, you may pick an activity to do such as a board game, go in the gym shoot baskets, make a craft put together a puzzle or a model car or cook etc. What is involved in getting started, three easy steps: #1 Apply - Complete the mentor application #2 Train - Take training to prepare you for the experience #3 Match - Meet your mentee.

***There is an up-coming information/training night on Monday, August 30th from 5:30-6:30 P.M. in the Holdrege Middle School Media Center. You are invited to come find out what the TeamMates Mentoring Program is all about. Mentors are needed for our new fifth grade class!

Bring a friend, or relative - COME JOIN THE TEAM! Call Mary or Jean at995-5421 if you have questions.
Jean Berreckman and Mary Schneider Co-oordinators of the Holdredge TeamMates Mentoring Program

Talent for TeamMates Competition

Lincoln, NE Public School Students – Grades 6 through 12! Represent your school and compete for prizes*!

The Talent for TeamMates Competition will be held Sunday, Oct. 3rd at St. Mark’s Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd. from 4 to 6 pm.

Music acts from Lincoln Public Schools are invited to participate in the first ever, city-wide talent competition - Talent for TeamMates!

To perform, students must audition. Taping events are scheduled at all LPS middle and high schools starting September 1st. Check www.lincolnteammates.org/newsandevents/events.htm for audition guidelines and the school schedules.

*One high school and one middle school act will win an opportunity to perform at the Lied Center for Performing Arts and a $100 gift certificate to Dietz Music House.

Advanced tickets available through the Lincoln TeamMates office (402) 436-1990; $5 students/youth (w/valid ID) or $10 adults.
At the door: $10 students/youth (w/valid ID) or $15 adults.

All ticket sales from the event go to support the Lincoln TeamMates mentoring program.

For more information: www.lincolnteammates.org or 436-1990

Teammates Mentoring needs Mentors

KVSH (Valentine, NE) posted an article on their website about TeamMates!

The Valentine Chapter of Teammates Board of Directors met yesterday at the Valentine Middle School. The summary of last year’s successful program showed 24 mentors in the schools.

CLICK HERE to link to the full article

Twarling named head of mentoring program

The North Platte Telegraph
By Heather Johnson | Wednesday, August 25, 2010 4:11 AM CDT

Just three months after leaving his post as associate superintendent of the North Platte Public Schools, Dan Twarling has made good on his promise to stay involved with youth and the community.

He has been named coordinator of the area chapter of the TeamMates Mentoring Program. His experience includes 37 years in the public education system.

"I couldn't stay away. I'm really excited about this and have some lofty goals," said Twarling. "There are currently 25 mentors, and the goal is to increase that to 100. TeamMates is also going to become more visible in the community. Today's young people are tomorrow's future and anything we can do to help them benefits us all."

CLICK HERE to read the full story ....

The Columbus Telegram - Loseke makes her mark with mentoring challenge

By Julie Blum jblum@columbustelegram.com The Columbus Telegram. CLICK HERE to link to the full article at The Columbus Telegram.

COLUMBUS — Columbus’ youth will have more mentors thanks to an effort by Heather Loseke.

The former Miss Columbus embarked on a challenge to businesses this year to increase mentoring in the community. Called the Miss Columbus Business Challenge, it kicked off at the start of the year.

Businesses were encouraged to increase their number of employees who mentor. The organization that showed the greatest increase was rewarded with a visit by Tom Osborne, founder of the TeamMates mentoring program.

The Business Challenge concluded May 15. Winning the challenge was Columbus Family Practice. Osborne spent an afternoon luncheon with the group Thursday at Wunderlich’s.

CLICK HERE to link to the full article at The Columbus Telegram.

1011 Kearney

Click on the picture below to link to 1011's website. They've posted a great video about the need for mentors! Thanks 1011!!

Kearney Hub Article

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA Athletics Director Tom Osborne speaks to an audience at Kearney’s Hilltop Mall Friday. Osborne talked to Nebraska fans about the TeamMates Mentoring Program founded by him and his wife, Nancy. Rick Tucker, Kearney Hub
Below is an article from the Kearney Hub. Click HERE to visit the Kearney Hub's website and link to the full article.



The need for youth mentors brought Nebraska Athletics Director Tom Osborne to Kearney Friday afternoon.

Speaking at a Tailgate for TeamMates at Hilltop Mall, Osborne made a plea for volunteers to assist in the TeamMates Mentoring Program founded by him and his wife, Nancy.

The program currently mentors 4,300 youths in 16 communities in Iowa and Nebraska, “and we’re shooting for 5,000,” he said.

But the program has one-third more youngsters who would like a mentor than there are available mentors.

“And I know that’s the case in Kearney,” Osborne said.

Kearney has approximately 100 mentors participating in the program, and Osborne was scheduled to speak later Friday at a similar gathering for the program in Hershey, a town with the population of 600 that also has about 100 mentors.

“That’s the kind of commitment they’ve made to young people,” he said.

Being a mentor requires about one hour per week meeting with the youth, and all that is required is someone who cares, somebody who affirms and someone who provides a vision.

Each school has a coordinator who matches mentors with the students and the TeamMates program provides the training.

Osborne said students in the program have experienced a lower dropout rate, higher grades and fewer disciplinary problems.

“Eighty-five percent of our young people show improvement in attendance … and if in-school attendance is getting better, everything is getting better,” Osborne said.

Tom Osborne Visits Hershey, NE TeamMates Mentoring Program

By Mark Obermeier
Published: Saturday, August 21, 2010 4:10 AM CDT
North Platte Telegraph


HERSHEY - How many lives have been affected by the Teammates Mentoring Program? How many students have stayed in school, graduated and gone on to college?

Dr. Tom Osborne stopped by Hershey Friday night to shed a little light on the mentoring program's success and to thank the patrons of Hershey for all that they do in helping young individuals.

Tom and Nancy Osborne could not have imagined the program's success that was developed 19 years ago after watching a television show one evening.

"We were watching a television program one evening that told about an individual that was trying to help troubled youth," Osborne said. "The gentleman told the kids that if they would just stay in school and graduate, he would pay for their college education."

After the TV program, Osborne said he asked Nancy if there was something they could do for the Lincoln community. When they put their heads together, the TeamMates Mentoring Program was born.


Osborne approached the Nebraska football team to see if there was any interest in working with the youth of Lincoln. Twenty-two athletes volunteered to help seventh and eighth grade students in the cities junior highs.

"I knew that Nancy and I couldn't afford to send all the students to college," said Osborne. "But I told them if they graduated, we would find a way.

"By the time they graduated, the money was there with a lot of help. All 22 graduated and 18 of those went to college."

From those first 22 students and mentors, the program now has grown to 4,300 members in 116 communities. Most of the programs are in Nebraska but eight are in western Iowa and Osborne has traveled to San Diego to help start a program there.

Osborne had nothing but praise for the Hershey mentor/mentee program.

"Hershey is the poster child for the mentoring program," said Osborne. "They have shown a tremendous amount of interest in helping youth. I want to thank Hershey for wanting to take care of their young people."

Osborne went on to talk about the benefits that he sees in the mentoring program.

"It helps keep kids out of trouble," Osborne said. "Not that all of them would [get in trouble], but it keeps them on the right path."

Osborne said that there are about 75 percent less problems once a student enters the program and about half of the students get better grades. He also stated how the program was well worth the cost.

"It costs about $460 a year per student," he said. "It is cost effective and a tremendous return in our investment."

Osborne said there are actually more kids that want mentored than we have mentors. So there is still a need for more volunteers.

"It is all about building relationships," he said. "It is a one-on-one relationship that hopefully continues through graduation."

Osborne said there are three things that every mentor should do: (1) They should care unconditionally and want the best for their mentee; (2) They need to provide affirmation and really believe in the mentee; (3) They need to provide a vision

Osborne went on to say the mentors want to provide a vision for the kids in identifying their strengths and reinforcing them.

"Successful people don't worry about what they can't do," said Osborne. "If just one person can find help, he can help others. It is the ripple affect, it can last forever."

Link the the full article HERE.

LOCAL MENTORING PROGRAM CERTIFIED BY THE IOWA MENTORING PARTNERSHIP

Certified mentoring programs expand in communities across the state

TeamMates Mentoring Program is happy to announce that TeamMates of the Missouri Valley was awarded full certification with the Iowa Mentoring Partnership. The Iowa Mentoring Partnership, a state government agency that is supported by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, strives to increase the capacity of local mentoring programs by providing statewide opportunities for training, recognition, resource-development, technical assistance and much more.

As the certifying body for local mentoring programs in our state, the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service is proud to announce that PROGRAM recently gained program (re)certification with the Iowa Mentoring Partnership. PROGRAM joins a network of more than 80 mentoring programs that have gained certification status with the Iowa Mentoring Partnership and are committed to upholding quality mentoring services for children and youth.

PROGRAM will also work to ensure Governor Chet Culver’s 2009 proclamation that “every child in the state have the tools and resources necessary to succeed.”

Share statewide mentoring data and insert a paragraph or two about the mentoring program. Be sure to mention how individuals can connect with the program and become a mentor.

Contact:
TeamMates Mentoring Program
402-390-8326

Iowa Mentoring Partnership
(800) 308-5987

Bellevue Leader Features an Article about local TeamMates Chapter

TeamMates, the youth mentoring program founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne, is looking for volunteer mentors for about 100 Bellevueelementary, middle and high school students. The organization hopes to find at least 50 new mentorsthis year, said Jesse Hopkins, the TeamMates coordinator for Bellevue PublicSchools.

"It's an amazing opportunity for both BellevuePublic Schools and TeamMates," Hopkins said. "We've got a lot ofpeople who are looking to volunteer somewhere, but they just don't know whereto go. The TeamMates program is an excellent opportunity."

TeamMates was awarded a $55,000 grant from MidlandsMentoring Partnership to expand its presence in Bellevue. The grant allowed forthe hiring of Hopkins and a screening and retention specialist for themetropolitan area.

"TeamMates is definitely an exemplary mentoringprogram," said Deborah Neary, executive director of Midlands MentoringPartnership. "We're thrilled that they are willing to keep expandingbecause the need for mentors is really huge in our local communities."

TeamMates volunteers spend about an hour a week duringschool hours meeting one-on-one with youths through high school graduation.

Volunteers have to pass a background check, after whichthey are matched with a student from third to 12th grade with similarinterests.

Anyone interested in volunteering can apply at www.teammates.org or contact Hopkins orBill Richards at the Lied Activity Center by calling 293-5000.



Teammates PSA

Mentoring program showing success, needs more help

Friday, August 13, 2010

McCook Daily Gazette

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The local branch of a mentoring program started by Tom Osborne is showing positive results, according to a program official.
The latest annual metrics indicated that students involved with the McCook TeamMates program had 100 percent fewer absences than they did before they became part of the program, according to Dennis Berry, TeamMates president.


CLICK HERE to read the full story......

TeamMates of Gothenberg, NE Earns Awards of Distinction

The Gothenberg Times printed a great article about TeamMates of Gothenberg!

Check out the full article by clicking on the picture below.

TEAMMATES MENTORING PROGRAM HOLDS GALA KICKOFF

A kickoff for the TeamMates Gala was held in June at the 94/95 Club on 180th and Pacific. Committee members learned about the importance of mentoring young people from TeamMates Mentoring Program founder Tom Osborne. The 2010 Gala, Tailgate for TeamMates, will be held on Friday October 29th at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in LaVista, NE. The guest speakers will be Warren Buffett and Keith Jackson. Buffett is an investor, businessman and philanthropist. He is regarded as one of the world’s greatest stock market investors and is the largest shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Keith Jackson is an American sportscaster, known for his long career with ABC Sports and his coverage of college football.


Honorary Chairmen for the Teammates Gala are Mike and Lin Simmonds. General Chairmen are Scott and Danielle Bunz and Chuck and Christine Stevens. Committee members are Curt and Pat Brannon, Gayle and Jody Carstens Janet and Steve Chambers, Terry and Lisa Connealy, Kris and Jessica Covi, Stacey and Kevin Falk, Paul and Dawn Gonzales, Brad and Kate Grabill, Aaron and Kim Graham, Matt and Lisa Gravelle, Tom and Jenny Haase, John and Victoria Halgren, Suzanne and Jason Hince, Jeff and Kristi Jacobs, Jill and Mike Johnson, Chad and Carie Kelsay, Tim and Kari Kudron, Chuck and Kristin Lewis, Claudia and Anthony Messineo, Susie and Don Nelson, Dan and Darcy Pleasant, Greg and Lisa Russell, and Chris and Diana Tribulato.

2010 TeamMates PSA

2010 Coaches Challenge Kicks Off!

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Adrianne Watson
402.390-8326

MEDIA ALERT

The Challenge
The National Mentoring Partnership has identified 15 million youth in need of a mentor. Thousands of these youth live in Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas.

In an effort to help close this “mentoring gap” the fourth annual Coaches Challenge Mentor Recruitment Campaign has kicked off between TeamMates Mentoring Program and Kansas Mentors. UNL Athletic Director, Tom Osborne (TeamMates) and Kansas State Football Coach, Bill Snyder (Kansas Mentors) are leading the efforts to see which team can recruit the most new mentors. This year the campaign has expanded to include college coaches and administrators from across Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas who are challenging their communities to volunteer to mentor a youth. Follow the Coaches Challenge score at teammates.org to see which program has recruited the most new mentors.

The Coaches Challenge launched on July 27th at the 2010 TeamMates Annual Partnership Meetings. Over 200 TeamMates Coordinators from across NE & IA and co-founders Tom and Nancy Osborne were in attendance. The winning team will be announced ¬¬¬December 4th, 2010.

The Teams
Kansas Mentors, led by Coach Bill Snyder, is a statewide mentoring initiative whose mission it is to provide every young Kansan access to a caring and quality mentor.

TeamMates, founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne, is a mentoring program whose mission is to positively impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring. Mentors meet one hour per week at the school to provide support and encouragement to youth.

Coaches Challenge Supporters:
Trev Alberts University Of Nebraska – Omaha, Athletic Director
Brent Bargen Chadron State College, Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Pat Behrns University Of Nebraska – Omaha, Head Football Coach
Lance Creech Hastings College, Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Tim Connealy Chadron State College, Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Turner Gill University of Kansas, Head Football Coach
Brian Keller Nebraska Wesleyan University, Head Football Coach
Chris Kranju Hastings College, Head Men’s Soccer Coach
Greg McDermott Creighton University, Head Men's Basketball Coach
Darrell Morris University of Nebraska – Kearney, Athletic Director
Bill O’Boyle Chadron State College, Head Football Coach
Ron Rainey University of Iowa, Head Womens Soccer Coach
Bruce Rasmussen Creighton University, Athletic Director
Rick Squiers University Of Nebraska – Kearney, Head Volleyball Coach

Join the Challenge!
To join the challenge and learn more about mentoring, go to www.teammates.org or call 1-877-531-8326. To check the scoreboard for the Coaches Challenge go to www.teammates.org. Join the Team – Be a Mentor.

2010 Annual Partnership Meeting a Success

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Adrianne Watson
402.690.8326

MEDIA ALERT

LINCOLN NE –TeamMates coordinators, board members and mentors from over 100 communities across Nebraska, Iowa and California gathered this week at TeamMates Annual Partnership Meeting. Each year the two day meeting brings together the TeamMates leadership for training, guest speakers, and educational session. The meetings are concluded with an awards ceremony celebrating mentoring and preparing to kick off the program for the upcoming school year. TeamMates leadership joined Tom and Nancy Osborne, the co-founders of the program, to revisit the original inspiration for the program.

Dr. Shane Lopez was the keynote speaker. Dr. Lopez leads research on the links between hope, strengths development, academic success, and overall wellbeing and collaborates with scholars around the world on these issues. His talk focused on creating hope and enhancing the strengths of students. Lopez advocates for a whole-school strengths model that also builds the strengths expertise of educators, parents, and youth development organizations. Dr. Lopez works for Gallup's Clifton Strengths Institute.

The following TeamMates communities celebrated their ten year anniversary and were honored for their commitment to a decade of mentoring: Aurora, Boone Central, Centennial, Franklin, Milford, Sandy Creek, Seward, and York

In addition to programs celebrating anniversaries, new communities were welcomed to the TeamMates Mentoring. Those recognized for completing their first year with TeamMates include Nebraska communities of Bridgeport, Maywood, Mullen, Schuyler, and Sutherland and Boyer Vallery and Waterloo in Iowa.

The TeamMates Mentoring Program relies on outstanding local leadership to provide quality mentoring services across Nebraska and Iowa. The communities of Fairbury, Holdrege, Boone Central, and Waterloo, IA were honored for outstanding mentoring programs. Sheila Essary of Nebraska City, Darrell Miller of Wayne, Kim Baliman of Kimball and Julie Lausterer of Saunders County were recognized for outstanding volunteerism. Chad Denker of Seward, Janyce Warneke of Plainview, Maurie Deines of Scotts Bluff County, and Jessica Plueger were honored for outstanding program coordination.

In addition to outstanding program leadership, outstanding TeamMates matches were honored. The following mentors and mentees were recognized for excellence in mentoring: John Owens and Caleb McCartney of Seward, Cathy Kohl and Samantha Reichenberg of Columbus, Brent Block and Tyrell Dewey of Gothenburg, and Kevin Christensen and Justin Krum of Missouri Valley, IA.

The Dreamer Award was presented to Adrian Fiala, long time supporter of TeamMates mentoring, for his organization of the annual Husker Heritage Golf Tournament held in Gothenburg. Proceeds from the event provide dollars for the local Gothenburg mentoring program.

The mission of the TeamMates Mentoring Program is to positively impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential. The TeamMates Mentoring Program was founded in 1991 by Tom and Nancy Osborne to provide support and encouragement to school-aged youth.

To join the team and be a mentor, call 1-877-531-8326 or go to www.teammates.org