TEAMMATES Mentoring Our Future G
raduating from high school is one of the earliest and most important milestones to set us up for success in life. That goal, however, isn’t always easy or even attainable for every student. This is where TeamMates comes in; a program that believes caring adults mentoring school age children can make a big impact.
Humble Beginnings
words Ashley Johnson photos Jesse Brown Nelson 42
BLACKHILLSPARENT.COM
TeamMates was started in 1991 by Dr. Tom and Nancy Osborne, matching 22 University of Nebraska-Lincoln football players with Lincoln middle school students. Coach Osborne saw a need in his community, and thought the players could make an impact. Of the first class
of students, 21 graduated high school, with 18 continuing on in post-secondary education. In 1998 it became a statewide program, and in 2018 spread into South Dakota. The Custer-Hermosa school district led the charge, with programs in Rapid City, Spearfish, and Sioux Falls following suit. Chapters are being developed in more communities throughout the hills, with some hoping to start taking applications in spring of 2021. While it may seem similar to other youth mentoring programs, what sets TeamMates apart is its carefully structured approach. Jess Karim, the Regional Coordinator for TeamMates in South Dakota, notes that “When folks mentor with us, they join a team of experts
