La Porte Slicer Championship Mentoring Program Boosts Students’ Success

Slicer-Champions-2018Wrapping up its official first year with telling success stories, the La Porte school community’s Slicer Championship Mentoring Program is already in the planning stages of the next school year. The Slicer Championship Mentoring Program serves high school and middle school students in La Porte, offering them a chance to boost their grades and confidence.

The mentoring program was piloted last March with just three students and three mentors; now, the program boasts 35 active mentors and their students.

This exponential growth can be attributed to the recruiting efforts and guidance of Bert Sappenfield, who was hired as the program’s coordinator last summer.

A longtime personal mentor herself, Sappenfield learned of the position at a La Porte Kiwanis meeting. Feeling she’d be a good fit, Sappenfield applied for the position, secured the role, and immediately proved herself right.

“I really enjoy it,” Sappenfield said. “It’s been a lot of work, a lot of organization, but they’re great kids and they’ve got a great group of mentors. I have 15 different businesses represented within those 35 mentors.”

The Slicer Championship Mentoring Program focuses on at-risk students: those with attendance issues, low grades and performance, and an increasing risk of graduating late, or not graduating at all.

“My mentors are not there to do tutoring, but mainly to mentor them,” Sappenfield said. “To be support for them, and to help them learn how to set goals, to gain more self-esteem, to help them see the world from a different perspective. Essentially, to be the support that they may not have in their lives, currently.”

Sappenfield recruits the mentors and matches them with their students. She undertakes the screening process, making sure all mentors are given background checks. From there, Sappenfield facilitates their training and equips them with the tools necessary to work with their “mentees.”

The mentors and mentees meet once a week for about 45 minutes to an hour.

“Of all the children that were in the program and are returning for the next school year, they all wanted their same mentors back,” Sappenfield said. “I think that speaks volumes of our mentors. And I believe all of my mentors are returning, which speaks volumes of the program.”

Sappenfield only works on a part-time basis but make no mistake—she typically ends up going above and beyond her expected requirements. Jackie Dermody, a mentor with the program and a member of the program’s advisory board, insists that Sappenfield has never worked less than 30 hours a week.

“Bert is deserving of huge applause!” Dermody said. “She accomplished more in 9 months than some people accomplish in 18 months.”

Dermody said Sappenfield’s personal investment in the mentoring program is part of what makes it tick.

“She is glue to this program,” Dermody said. “When she talks about the strides the students have made in this program, she tears up.”

The Slicer Championship Mentoring Program is a grant-driven activity. One of the businesses Sappenfield claims is integral to the program’s success is American Licorice Company.

“They’re huge supporters of this program,” Sappenfield said. “They donated the seed money to start this program last year, and have helped fund us again this year. I actually have five mentors from American Licorice Company.”

Sappenfield only wants to grow the program more, hoping to expand to 50 mentors this coming school year.

“I’ve got a little work to do, but it’s been a great experience,” Sappenfield said. “I’m looking forward to this next school year.”

If you are interested in finding out more or becoming a mentor with the Slicer Championship Mentoring Program, contact Bert Sappenfield at bsappenfield@lpcsc.k12.in.us or call 219-362-3102 (extension 61027.)