Members of the West Point Big Brothers Big Sisters Club visited the Highland Falls Intermediate School (HFIS) on March 21, in Highland Falls, N.Y.
Cadets meet with HFIS students once a week for about an hour to either play at the playground or do mentorship activities like developing goals and character development.
Occasionally, cadets will take the students bowling or conduct physical activity in the Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center as a trip section.
Cadets inspire the students at HFIS to achieve their full potential and better their future lives.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to build and support mentoring relationships between cadets and local students to ignite the most significant possible futures for both.
West Point makes the future leaders of the Army, and by matching a cadet mentor, a “Big,” with an HFIS youth, otherwise known as a “Little,” they extend their impact by inspiring the next generation of leaders and giving back to the Highland Falls community.
For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program, visit www.bbbs.org.
Q & A with Trisha Hannigan, Grades 3-5 HFIS school counselor.
How long has the program been sponsored at HFIS? About how long have cadets been mentoring students there?
A: "The program has been in existence over 20 years. Fun fact: before I was hired as a school counselor for the district, I was the mentoring manager for BBBS - overseeing the HF programs (at that time they had a school-based program with James I. O'Neill High School mentors in addition to the West Point program)."
What kind of activities are offered, and about how many students participate in the program?
A: "Matches meet weekly throughout the year with a prioritize connection in whatever activities they participate in each week: some will play chess or other board games, draw together or sit and chat, while others can be found playing basketball, walking the track, or playing tag. On average, there are between 20-25 matches each year."
Are you the person who oversees the program at HFIS?
A: "I am the school liaison but in no way can take the credit for oversight. BBBS sends a mentoring manager to supervise the program. Our school secretary Mary Papa is also instrumental in ensuring the logistical success of the weekly meetings."
Please share any other information you think is important for us to highlight?
A: "Two examples of many proud moments for this program are how we creatively sustained the matches' relationship and connection through Covid-19, meeting virtually in breakout rooms and the community connection between matches outside of school -- witnessing a Big at local rec basketball games to cheer on his Little. The mentoring relationships are lifelong and extend beyond the walls of HFIS; it is truly an invaluable program for the students involved (and I imagine the cadets as well)."
For current happenings and to follow HFIS events, visit Twitter at @principal_HFIS.
(Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Luisito Brooks/USMA PAO)