Findlay, Ohio - Twelve intervention specialist majors in the University's College of Education are serving as mentors and job coaches for 21 Findlay High School transitional students to help them learn what it is like to have a job.

Twice a week for 10 weeks, the high school students come to campus for a class period to work in a variety of positions across campus, including at the Cave Snack Bar, with the groundskeepers, at the Clauss Ice Arena and in a number of offices.

According to Susan Brooks, assistant professor of special education, the program is a mutual benefit to the high school students and the UF students. “Our students learn how to work with kids, how to interact with parents and how to set up activities outside of the classroom,” Brooks said. “The high school students get encouragement and direction for their career path, and they get to explore a variety of different careers.”

Many of the UF students involved with the Mentor/Mentee Program go out of their way to help the high school students learn about careers. Senior intervention specialist major Sherrie Gillespie, who was involved with the program last year, arranged for the two students she mentored to visit the Carpenters Local 1365 training center in Rossford.

Another student, senior intervention specialist major Kathy Samsal, took one of her students to a ballet after learning that the student wanted to be a dancer. “She was so excited to be able to see a real ballet performance,” Samal said. “It was great to see how that experience inspired her to work harder in school.”