Team Success mentoring program co-coordinators Kena Torbert (far left) and Phillip Petway (far right) pose with participants June 8 at Fort Valley State University.
June 29, 2011 – After a fierce competition, 16 Middle Georgia high school students won a coveted spot in this summer’s TEAM Success Mentoring Program at Fort Valley State University. The selection committee had a difficult job deciding who’d make the cut for the agricultural internship program. Crawford County resident Iesha Robinson and Chelsea McWhorter of Hancock County toughed it out and will earn a $2,400 stipend.
“Being selected in a program such as this really opened a lot of doors for me. As a high school graduate, I needed a lot of help as to the do’s and don’ts of college and business life. I was ecstatic when I received the call from Ms. Torbert,” said Chelsea McWhorter.
McWhorter recalls words spoken by mentor, Ginger Chastine, Hancock County Cooperative Extension Agent during a presentation about the internship: “‘I will remember your faces. Those who played around and grinned throughout the presentation will most likely not get the job and those who interacted with me will most likely get the job.’”
The acronym, TEAM, stands for teaching, enlightening, achieving and mentoring. Students are paired with extension agents and program assistants who work throughout Georgia. The teens are exposed to careers related to agriculture and family and consumer sciences, which provides services to youth, seniors and community residents.
After submitting essays, gathering recommendations and anxiously waiting about a month during the selection process, Robinson said, “I feel very accomplished and relieved that my hard work paid off. During the competition, Robinson realized that two friends were also competing for a spot.
Referenced article at FVSU
