A pair of Barberton community mentees were the guest speakers at the 2019 iC.A.R.E. Mentor Appreciation Reception on National Mentoring Day (January 17, 2019). Jaylin Taber and Eli Dobbin, 2018 Barberton High School graduates, spoke to a crowd of 140 iC.A.R.E. Mentors and United Way of Summit County supporters about the important role their mentors played in helping them finish high school, get into college, and learn important life skills. Both mentees shared mentoring stories and highlighted the importance of having mentors who genuinely cared about them.
Mr. Jeffrey Ramnytz, Barberton City Schools Superintendent, later took part in a mentoring informational panel, expressing his pride for the students’ achievements and emphasizing the value of mentors to Barberton youth.
Watch the mentees’ presentations online at: Mentee Presentation
See photos of the event: Event Photos
On May 2, 2018, faculty and students from The University of Akron welcomed 50 Barberton 7th graders for a campus tour and end-of-year celebration as part of the Ohio Community Connectors Initiative. The OCCI promotes youth mentoring through strong community partnerships. This award-winning initiative between Barberton City Schools, The University of Akron, Johnson United Methodist Church, iC.A.R.E Mentoring of The United Way of Summit County, and Raymond James Financial matches academically vulnerable Barberton students with trained adult mentors in order to promote college and career readiness.
Dean Tudor meets with 7th graders and their mentors during their year-end visit to UA.
University of Akron students participating in the Community Connectors Initiative are assigned to a Barberton classroom based upon their major (Social Studies, Language Arts, and Special Education). This mentorship takes place over the course of the semester under the direct supervision of their professors and cooperating Barberton teachers.
The end-of-year celebration introduces Barberton students to the University of Akron and honors the mentors and mentees' many accomplishments. During the celebration, Barberton students meet with university admissions staff, take a campus tour, go bowling in the Student Center, and eat lunch with their university mentors.
