CHAMP Celebrates End of School Year
The Children's Hope and Mentoring Program (C.H.A.M.P.), sponsored by the Osceola Council on Aging and the School District of Osceola County celebrated the end of another successful year with a party held at the Council's Veal Center. The youth based after school program provides an encouraging and productive environment conducive to developing a positive relationship for elementary and middle school students and their mentors. More than 50 students and 12 mentors participated in the weekly program held at the Council's Veal Center.

  Justice Dobbs, sister Isis Dobbs and Deja James
share a smile at the celebration.
   Lilian Barr, CHAMP Program Coordinator,
poses with Marc Claudio, a student at
Kissimmee Middle School.


"This is such a wonderful experience for children to have an adult role model to talk with and share their daily experiences and challenges. The students and mentors cultivate a trusting rapport resulting in the development of the students character and integrity and a rewarding experience for the mentor," stated Connie Bellanceau, Volunteer Center Director for the Council on Aging.

   Bus driver Ms. Kim gets a hug from
Gracie from Neptune Middle School.


Students participated from Michigan Avenue Elementary, St. Cloud Middle School and St. Cloud Villas in St. Cloud and Central Avenue Elementary, Kissimmee Middle School, Boggy Creek Elementary and Parkway Middle School.


 
  


Ms. V, (bottom center) teacher from
Parkway Elementary School smiles alongside
Denn John teacher's assistant Sonia and
students Destiny Lopez,
Valerie Miranda and Nayalis Linares.
  Program Coodinator Lilian Barr (bottom left), sits beside William Martinez, mentor and teacher's assistant, Sonia.
  Narcoossee Community School students celebrate at the end of the year party held at the Veal Center with teacher, Miss Sonia. Students include Brooke, Thalese, Amrita, Maryangely, Samantha, Michelle, Nicholas, Juliette and Ms. Alvarez, a teacher from Neptune Middle School (top left)
  Mentor Carmen Moreno, a resident of the Council's St. Cloud Villas independent living facility, sits with her student, Nashalie, from Neptune Middle School.
 Samantha Ortiz from Neptune Middle School hugs her mentor and grandmother, Marciana Arocho, a resident at St. Cloud Villas.

 Nashalie and Amanda, both students at Neptune Middle School, smile as they celebrate the end of the school year.

"The Council extends its gratitude to the School District of Osceola County and their teachers for their partnership and support for this program," said Lilian Barr, CHAMP Program Co-Coordinator. "This is such a wonderful program with students learning so much from their mentors and the mentors sharing the wisdom of their years," she concluded.

  CHAMP student Coralis Cedano receives her
raffle prize, from Lilian Barr (left) and
Connie Bellanceau.

Funded by...

   '21st Century Community Learning Centers
SPIRIT Afterschool Programs'


Another Community Partnership between...
   
A special thanks to Lilian Barr and Jo-Ann Ortiz, CHAMP Program Coordinators 
for their tireless, cheerful and creative work with the program. We will miss you!

To volunteer as a mentor or for further information on the
CHAMP Program contact Connie Bellanceau at 407-933-9525.










Back To Special Events
Osceola Council on Aging
Barney E. Veal Center
700 Generation Point
Kissimmee, FL 34744
Phone: 407-846-8532
Fax: 407-846-8550