MSU Extension mentee speaks at Mentoring Day Capitol event

posted on January 25, 2012 2:07pm

Contact: [email=alexa399@msu.edu]Katie Alexander[/email]
517-432-1555, ext. 182

MSU Extension mentee speaks at Mentoring Day Capitol event

EAST LANSING, Mich. – “I know what I want to do in my future, and I have a plan,” said a mentee from the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension 4-H Tech Wizard Program.

Gov. Rick Snyder declared January as Michigan Mentoring Month, an opportunity to recognize the significant impact mentors have on today’s youth.

15-year-old Katie Wolters shared her experiences during Mentoring Day at the Capitol on Friday in Lansing, Mich. Katie became involved with MSU Extension’s 4-H Tech Wizards program in Ottawa County after struggling to succeed in her former school.

“This experience really helped me learn how to get along with new people,” said Katie. We (my mentor and I) realized we could have a lot of fun together.”

4-H Tech Wizards is a national 4-H Program of Distinction with demonstrated success. The program utilizes small group mentoring to engage at-risk youth in science, technology and engineering activities. Both mentors and youth gain positive relationships while learning job skills and engaging in hands-on experience in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“I’ve had so many great experiences with my mentor,” said Katie. “We’ve taught elementary students about biofuel by mixing tons of different ingredients together, we built water rockets and launched them and we have gone window shopping and had fun laughing at the latest fashions together.”

Katie shows strong leadership skills and is one of the first to step up to volunteer in her community. Katie will attend Zeeland High School and plans to study for a future career in the criminal justice field.

4-H Tech Wizards is a Michigan 4-H program through MSU Extension. For more information on mentoring in Michigan, visit www.4h.msue.msu.edu/4h/mentoring.

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Photo cutline:  Lt. Gov. Brian Calley (left) poses with Katie Wolters, mentee of the 4-H Tech Wizards Program, on Mentoring Day, Jan. 20, 2012, at the Michigan Mentoring Capitol event in Lansing, Mich. Katie spoke at the Capitol in recognition of Michigan Mentoring Month. Photo taken by Lisa Bottomley.