Past Fall Kickoff Events
2022 Fall Kickoff
Mentors enjoyed a night of networking: learning from others about challenges and joys of mentoring. Each table was given “Table Talk” conversation starters and many ideas were shared. Mentors were also able to participate in Music Bingo to earn some swag!
Dr. Tom Osborne inspired us all with his talk about the importance of mentoring. We also had a great panel of students sharing their experiences. The night ended by celebrating our mentors in the 24 or More Club and each received a button for themselves and their mentees.
2021 Fall Kickoff: Celebrating 30 years
After a challenging school year, playful was the watchword of the evening. We celebrated the successes and resilience of our mentors by presenting them with Adaptable Advocate gold “medals” and challenged everyone present with a 30-year trivia quiz.
LPS Superintendent Dr. Steve Joel (sporting his gold medal) spoke about how integral TeamMates is to learning in our district. Dr. Tom Osborne, a TeamMates co-founder, shared the program’s beginnings and growth over the last 30 years. A pair of recently graduated Lincoln TeamMates mentees shared their perspective on their mentoring experiences. Our keynote speaker for the evening was Dr. Vann Price, LPS Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. A portion of her talk, “The Power of Belonging,” spoke to the work of Dr. John A. Powell. Here’s a clip:
2020 Fall Kickoff: You Matter
A keynote speech by Elijah Riley gave authentic voice to how having a TeamMates mentor helped him navigate high school and set a course for life after graduation including a major in Fisheries and Wildlife Management at UNL with a minor in Criminal Law to enable a future career as a Conservation Officer or a Game Warden. In Riley’s words, “You guys touch and change more lives than you will ever know, and I know I am not the only one that feels like this.”
Thoughtful (and sometimes humorous) responses of invited mentee panelists reminded attendees that every match in TeamMates rests on commitment, trust, and willingness to grow together. Several panelists mentioned their initial assumptions of their mentor being overturned in the best ways.