GreyStone employees honored as mentors

Mentors come in many forms, but at GreyStone Power each mentor comes with a smile.

GreyStone, with more than 240 employees, encourages employees to be involved in the community. At the One-2-One Mentoring Program recognition luncheon in May 2004, seven employees were honored for their commitment to the Douglas County students. GreyStone Power employees Tera Ladner, Charlotte Lockhart, Nancy Lietch, Ebony Cintron-Hawes, Judy Shaw, Christine Bryant and Megan McKoy were recognized for their volunteer efforts in the mentoring program.

According to the Douglas County School System, the Douglas One-2-One Mentoring Program pairs positive adult role models with Douglas County students who need extra attention. Adult companions stand in the gap by serving as a positive role model, friend, listener, resource and guide.

“We believe that there is a time in all of our lives when we are influenced and molded by another person. This person is not one of our parents or even a relative. He or she is someone who decided to take an active interest in our lives by sharing their time and talents.” said Karen Stroud, Community Relations director for the school system. “There is no greater gift you can give a child than becoming his or her mentor. Whatever your career, you can bring something new to one child’s life.”

GreyStone also partners with Beulah Elementary School and coordinates a reading program for students with special needs. Once a week GreyStone employees Radienne Slaughter, Sher Harris, Kizzy Beadles, Tricia Barrett, Debbie Davila, Trina Wright, Diane Jones, Delayne Eriquezzo, Sherri Morgan, Anne Starnes, Ebony Cintron-Hawes and Diane Bogard spend time during their lunch break with a student throughout the school year.

The impact of a mentor-student relationship can be seen in the student’s improved academic performance. In the 2002-2003 school year, 64 percent of students matched with mentors showed an increase in their grades, while 68 percent increased their attendance and 62 percent saw a decrease in discipline referrals. For details on the mentoring program call Douglas Communities in Schools at (770) 651-2039.