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AIA members make time for mentoring

More than 165 members of the Air Intelligence Agency and co-located units participate in the Kelly AFB/Southwest Independent School District Mentoring Program.

Mentors provide a positive role model to students that have been identified as being “at risk,” meaning that they have more of a potential of dropping out before graduating from high school.

The unique relationship is geared toward encouraging students from second grade to twelfth grade to do well in school, setting and meeting goals, graduating high school and helping the students build their self-esteem. AIA’s military members, civilian employees and spouses devote one-hour a week to go to the schools and mentor a student in his/her academically weak areas while providing encouragement needed to keep their grades up all year long. The primary focus is to help students concentrate on their reading skills, however, mentors also get into other areas with students, such as science and math. In high schools such subjects as career paths and college financial assistance could be discussed.

At the end of the school year, mentors and their students enjoy an afternoon picnic at Lindbergh Park at Kelly. The picnic includes rides, games, live shows and plenty of pizza. Each year the students host a talent show or play and say thanks to the mentors.

The schools’ goal is to provide every student a mentor. According to school officials, more than 80 percent of students with mentors have gone on to graduate from high school.