Mentor

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  Pre-Collegiate Mentor Paula Stepp

  Posted June 20, 2009 by webdev

  Keevyn Scholl
  Post Independent
  June 20, 2009

  Family, friends, pets, sports, teaching, volunteering and life. This describes Paula Stepp in a few words. Stepp is a person who gives to others. She volunteers her time for the future education of our valley's youth.

  As the daughter of an Air Force officer, Stepp grew up all over the world. She was born in California, moved to France, spent some time in Japan, and ended up spending her high school career in Colorado, and eventually attending Humboldt State University in California.

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  Pre-Collegiate Mentor Thomas van Straaten

  Posted June 18, 2009 by webdev

  Erma Bombeck once said, "Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another." Thomas van Straaten, an avid volunteer, is one of those unselfish people who seem to better our world everyday with his love, patience, and compassion. Straaten is a newly named mentor to eighth grade students at Basalt Middle School. He has paired with the Pre-Collegiate Program (PCP) to educate, train, and prepare students for college and post-academic life.

  The Pre-Collegiate Program's main goal is to develop relationships, promote healthy decisions, and ultimately guide students down the collegiate path. "100% of the kids enrolled in the program, past and present, have gone to college, including two young ladies that were pregnant," Pre-Collegiate Director Adriana Ayala-Hire said. The PCP has thrived in this valley for more than three years and is offered to students whose parents have either not attended college or did not complete college.

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  Pre-Collegiate Mentor Mark Spidell

  Posted June 14, 2009 by webdev

  Drew Halsch
  Post Independent
  June 14, 2009

  After a long day at work, most people would go home to relax; however, for Mark Spidell, a commercial lending advisor at U.S. Bank, the day doesn't just revolve around his work. On top of his full work load, he is a pre-collegiate mentor for the Roaring Fork School District Re-1.

  Mark Spidell was born in Greeley, Colo., and moved throughout his childhood from Kansas City to a small town in Oklahoma. He finally moved back to Colorado to finish his high school career. He then moved on to the University of Denver, where he received his degree in business and marketing.

• Post Independent Photo/Kelley Cox Roaring Fork High School's social studies teacher, Bonnie Cretti, will retire after 27 years.

  Cretti a 'guardian of education'

  Posted May 26, 2009 by webdev

  Connor McRaith
  Glenwood Springs Post Independent
  May 26, 2009

  College is an experience that many students around the world never have the opportunity to take a swing at. But here in the Roaring Fork Valley students have the chance to actually hit that ball when it comes and be prepared for the big leagues. This preparation takes place through a program called Pre-Collegiate.

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  Sprick an inspiration to college-bound students

  Posted May 11, 2009 by webdev

  Inspiration comes in many forms. Pre-Collegiate mentor Nova Sprick is one of them. Sprick is a yoga instructor, mentor and cancer survivor. Not many people can claim to be all three.

  Sprick has worked as a Pre-Collegiate mentor for only a little more than a year. She started last January, but has already made an impact on the seven girls with whom she works. None of the girls' mentors stuck around for long because the group was shy. This was perfect for Sprick because she was shy in high school so she relates to the girls.

  Sprick works with the girls every other week and then also individually in-between meetings. "My job as a mentor is to introduce (the girls) to wide varieties of jobs, and also to be another adult support outside the family," Sprick said.

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  Pre-collegiate mentor: Bob Johnson

  Posted May 8, 2009 by webdev

  Anna Holley
  Post Independent
  May 8, 2009

  This man is the epitome of human decency and selflessness. Characteristics that few possess. One man who possesses such qualities is Bob Johnson. Johnson is a Pre-Collegiate mentor for whom one good deed isn't enough.

  "He has really helped me to find my way through a sea of tests and paperwork...he helps me see what I need to get to where I want to go," a junior at GSHS Abril Loya said.