BIG Partners Launches To Mentor District 742 Students

(KNSI) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota is teaming up with St. Cloud Area Schools to create an intensive mentoring program for students facing significant challenges.

Employees with Granite Partners will meet one-on-one with 13 high school juniors in the program to get them prepared for college or a technical school, help them develop workplace skills, and create networking opportunities through visits with local businesses. The students currently go to either Apollo or Tech High Schools. BIG Partners targets students most at risk of dropping out or whose grades are lagging behind their classmates.

The idea was first proposed by District 742 Director of Equity Ayan Omar. Shelly Bauerly Kopel of Granite Partners says she was immediately excited about it.

“When Ayan first shared her story with me, I found her work inspirational. For several years she has been mentoring high school students 1-on-1 and having a significant impact. Through BIG Partners, we see the opportunity to scale her vision, collaborating to expand the excellent work she had already started,” Kopel says.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Director Ann Matvick exclaims, “With the support of partners like ISD 742 and Granite Partners, we can inspire a meaningful, lifelong impact on young people while strengthening our community.”

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