CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — As students return to class across Champaign Unit 4 School District, a different kind of reunion is taking place—one filled with smiles, hugs, and heartfelt reconnections.
Now in its 31st year, the One-to-One Mentoring program is bringing students and mentors back together for another school year of growth, support, and friendship. The long-standing program matches community-based adult volunteers with Unit 4 students, starting in elementary or middle school and continuing through high school.
“It’s a joyful time,” said Stacey Moore, Chief Communications Officer for Unit 4. “You can see the excitement on students’ and mentors’ faces. These are relationships that make a lasting impact.”
Mentors and mentees meet weekly during the school day, on school grounds. Some pairs have been together for years—bonding over books, lunch, or just life.
This week and next, reconnection meetings are scheduled at several middle and high schools, giving mentors a chance to re-establish their connections or meet their mentees for the first time.
Reconnection Schedule Highlights:
- Aug 26: Centennial High School
- Aug 27: Franklin Middle School
- Aug 28–29: Edison & Jefferson Middle Schools
- Sept 3: Jefferson Middle & Central High School
All mentors planning to attend a session should notify Stacey Moore at least one day in advance at moorest@u4sd.org.
