O-C Honored As TeamMates Celebrates Outstanding Chapters

YORK, NE — Representatives from more than 130 communities across the Midwest traveled to the Holthus Convention Center in York to be recognized for their outstanding work in the TeamMates Mentoring Program at the annual Partnership Summit.

Chapters received awards in a number of different categories. Two awards highlighted the number of visits mentors and mentees shared throughout the year based on the chapter’s average. TeamMates’ goal is to have matches meet 24 or more times per year. 36 chapters, including Clearwater-Orchard TeamMates, were recognized for their mentors averaging 24 or more meetings during the 2015-16 academic year. 15 chapters received an award for 30 or more meetings.  The Clearwater-Orchard Chapter along with several others was also presented a plaque signifying the first anniversary of forming a chapter.

The TeamMates Mentoring Program was founded in Lincoln, Nebraska 25 years ago. The Lincoln Public Schools Chapter received the Founders Award in honor of the organization’s silver anniversary.

As a school based mentoring program, academic success shines brightly throughout TeamMates. Jennifer Peters of the Mullen chapter received the Pillars of Excellence Award. This award is given to the TeamMates chapter for their dedication and commitment of helping their seniors win scholarships while inspiring them to pursue some type of post-secondary education or training after high school graduation. The Mullen chapter had 12 seniors graduate from high school in 2016 and pursue some type of post-secondary education on a local scholarship. Five of those seniors received a scholarship from the TeamMates Central Office, and one received the Susan Buffet Scholarship, which is worth up over $4,000 a semester until graduation.

Cabela’s World’s Foremost Outfitter and World’s Foremost Bank was honored with the TeamMates Corporate Champion Award. 86 employees mentor with the Sidney, Nebraska chapter, and 11 mentor in other communities. Cabela’s allows employees to mentor on company time along with generous financial support.

TeamMates could not exist without the support of the school districts and their administration. Four superintendents were recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty to welcome TeamMates into their districts. Those honored are Jeff Koehler from Johnson-Brock, Grant Norgaard from McCook, Bill Heimann from Waverly, and Alan Ehlers from Madison.

Founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne, the mission of the TeamMates Mentoring Program is to positively impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential.  Throughout the past year, TeamMates served nearly 8,000 youth in 137 communities across Nebraska and Iowa.  Mentors met with their mentees one-on-one in school, once a week, during the academic year.