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A closer look at each other’s lives inspires JU sociology students along with their Arlington mentees

Students in Sociology Professor Shelley Grant’s Media and Crime class reconnected with youths from Arlington area schools this week to culminate their semester-long mentoring together and give the young mentees a taste of campus life. (See a Facebook photo gallery here.)

After a spirited greeting from President Tim Cost and Provost Dr. Donnie Horner, during which the advantages of attending college were outlined, the students took a tour of campus and had lunch together.

This is the fifth year JU has partnered with Communities in Schools for the mentoring program for students from Fort Caroline Middle School, Arlington Middle School and Terry Parker High School.

“It is always the highlight of the course for my students to have their mentees visit on their campus after they have been visiting each week at their schools. It also gives the CIS students an opportunity to spend time on a college campus, something that many of them have never done,” said Grant.

“We greatly appreciate the support of Dane Gilbert and his CIS staff as they assist our students in their mentoring endeavors and coordinate and fund this special event. We feel that this partnership benefits both groups of students in a significant way, and we have had many success stories through the years.”

Gilbert, director of case management for Communities in Schools, is a 1979 JU Physical Education graduate. He has monitored the benefits of Grant’s mentoring project over the years and has seen the positive impact a caring adult can have on a student who may not otherwise be considering life goals such as attending college.