The 2018-19 Dr. Potter’s Bigs on Campus participants celebrate another successful year of the program.
Dr. Potter’s Bigs on Campus has quadrupled in size since starting with 13 mentoring matches in 2016. This school year, 55 children matched with campus employees to spend time together exploring campus, participating in on-campus activities and touring academic departments.
The initiative is a partnership between St. Cloud State University, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota and the St. Cloud Area School District. The mentoring program brings local youth to the university and immerses them in the possibilities of post-secondary education.
Mentees are bused to campus twice a month to meet one-on-one with a caring, positive mentor.
Last week program participants and community supporters gathered on campus to celebrate the conclusion of another successful year.
Margaret Potter and her Little Sister Anfa. Margaret is the daughter of Earl H. Potter III, who Dr. Potter’s Bigs on Campus Mentoring Initiative is named for.
The late President Earl H. Potter II was a longtime supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters and an eager partner early on in the initiative. His commitment to Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Bigs on Campus initiative inspired the program to be named in his honor.
Mentors include Potter’s daughter, Margaret, and his wife, Christine, sees the initiative as the perfect way to honor his legacy.
“Earl had such a big heart and a vision for the way the world could be if we all just opened our hearts,” she said.
Many of this year’s matches will continue in the program next school year, and it will expand to include new children in the program. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota is currently looking for more mentors to serve in the program.
St. Cloud School District Superintendent Willie Jett sees the difference the program makes for mentees and mentors alike.
“If you read the newspapers, if you check social media, in the last few weeks there’s moments in time where you can become frustrated with humanity, but when I look out into this room, it’s this thing, it gives us hope,” he said, at the celebration. “It’s hope between young people who are thriving and wanting mentorship and wanting to be able to connect. And it’s nice to be able to see that there are adults in the community who actually care about young people, the future and the community.”
Community partners support Dr. Potter’s Bigs on Campus including Spanier Bus Company, CentraCare Health Foundation and the Women’s Fund of Central Minnesota.
