Leadership class at CLC receives grant
The leadership class at Central Lakes College in Brainerd has secured a grant of $825 to help provide supervised activities for Kinship Partners children.
The college students have planned events this spring to "make a difference in the lives of children in this community," said Hannah Cooper, project leader.
Cooper and 15 CLC classmates are enrolled in the one-credit course that originated through a scholarship fund several years ago. The Holden Family Project Achieve Scholarship is geared toward fostering community involvement and civic responsibility.
Central Lakes College students who recently received a $825 grant are shown with Dawn Stattine (seated second from right) of Youth As Resources. They are Hannah Cooper (sitting, left), Theo Frentzos, Lindsey Jourdan, Nick Otterson (standing, left), Alison Shattuck, Jason Larson, Terese Schmidt, Holly Sendy, Sarah Froelich, Tracy Heinz, Cassie Vogt and LeAnn Ponsness. Other students in the class are Audrey McCoy, Ann Munson, Lucas Schmidt and Justin Speer.
The Youth As Resources grant obtained from Brainerd Community Action provides the majority of funding needed to carry out the Kinship Partners activities. The largest event is an April 20 Holiday Inn Express water park visit.
The collegians will team up with youth ages 12-14 who are registered with Kinship Partners as eligible for role-model influences and companionship. The leadership students at CLC may recruit responsible friends to match the significant number of youths awaiting partners.
"Our students want to set a good example for these kids," said Jean Mershon, coordinator of the CLC class. She said the activity could result in additional Kinship matches as the college students experience the benefit of serving as role models.
Mershon said her students have been serving as mentors for and established friendships with students in the college's occupational skills program. This has provided a foundation for developing skills that harness positive socialization with a productive environment.
The mentoring relationship and the Kinship Partners project are viewed as viable efforts that prepare students for a lifetime of engaged, responsible and active community involvement.
According to the grant application submitted by the leadership students, a four-hour water park activity will include games such as an obstacle course, water football and dodge ball. Along with the games, there will be prizes such as movie passes, bowling passes, Target gift certificates and pizza gift certificates.
"We will provide the kids with pizza and pop or juice," said Cooper. She expects up to 30 youths to be involved from the Kinship roster.
The spring term CLC leadership class includes sophomores Cooper, Brainerd; Theo Frentzos, Elk River; Ann Munson, Pequot Lakes; Holly Sendy, Motley; Justin Speer, Ottertail; and Cassie Vogt, Cushing; and freshmen Sarah Froelich, Pierz; Tracey Heinz, Little Falls; Lindsey Jourdan and Alison Shattuck, Brainerd; Jason Larson, Baxter; Audrey McCoy, Pine River; Nick Otterson, Maple Grove; LeAnn Ponsness, Nisswa; Lucas Schmidt, Menahga; and Terese Schmidt, Wahkon.