A group of Wagner Community High School students are playing a vital role in the lives of their elementary counterparts.

Twenty-three high school sophomores, juniors and seniors began serving as mentors of elementary students in early November. The mentors work with younger students to try to improve academic and social skills.

“I love being able to help an elementary student do better in school,” Senior Kristan Soukup said. “It’s a wonderful feeling seeing my mentor kid smile after finally understanding a math assignment.”

In addition to the mentors helping with homework, the pair shares in a variety of other activities including, reading, playing games, studying, talking, coloring and even playing with Legos.

It’s something I enjoy doing,” Junior Janae Patterson said. “I hope that my mentee enjoys this as much as I do.”

Being a positive role model for the mentees motivated the mentors to get involved in the program.

“I really wanted to help a kid and be a role model for someone,” Sophomore Maggie Barnett said. “When I was a kid, I always wanted a mentor so I thought it would be good to do that for someone.”

Being a good role model for the mentees means making them feel good about who they are.

“I want him to understand that it’s okay to be the way he is,” Sophomore Megan Merkwan said about her mentee.

Merkwan added she saw mentoring as “a great way to help a child in need.”

High School Counselor Vanessa Iverson oversees the mentoring program, which includes Sophomores Tysin Arpan, Maggie Barnett, Emilio Cournoyer, Sam Cournoyer, Haley Drapeaux, Britney Krcil, Dawson Lensing, Megan Merkwan, Madison Mora, Aneissa Olson, Kirstyn Roth, Faith Tyler, KaCee Zacharias, and Joi Zephier; Juniors Abby Freier, Sierra Juffer, Janae Patterson, and Halley Zephier; and Seniors Abby Beeson, Cheyanne Greger, Chloe Noteboom, Kristan Soukup, and Brycen Zephier.