MassHousing recently held its 25th Year-End Awards Ceremony for fifth-grade students involved in the S.T.A.R.R. Mentor Program.
The Striving Toward Academic Recognition and Respect Mentor (STARR) Program involves MassHousing staff mentoring students at the Martin Luther King K-8 School in Dorchester.
Some mentors work in the classroom with the students once a week to help develop mathematics and reading skills, while others donate time on weekends to take the students on educational field trips and other fun-filled activities.
STARR Mentor Program graduates
Thirteen MLK School students received academic and leadership awards at this year’s ceremony. Special guests included S.T.A.R.R. alumni students graduating from MLK's eighth grade this year, Principal Khita Pottinger and other MLK staff.
The program's keynote speaker was Jason Cross, an educator, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. Cross captivated students and adults with his speech entitled, "Positioned for Greatness."
Guest speaker Jason Cross advised students how to be "positioned for greatness"
MassHousing staff who serve as STARR Mentors
MassHousing’s S.T.A.R.R. mentors this year were Carmen Beato, Norman Brown, Charlene Hollins, Mike Kilgannon, Katrina Holman, Kathy Moore, Mildred Mukasa, Richard Nicks, George Ovins, Jennifer Rajala, Kamar Calixte, Colleen Doyle, James Fortune, Tom Johnston, Monte Stanford and Carl Richardson.
"The long-standing success of this program is the result of the unwavering commitment of the mentors" said Patricia Weems, MassHousing’s Manager of Diversity and Inclusion Programs, who coordinates the program.
"We work as a dedicated group of mentors because we share the belief that each student has the potential to achieve your best," Weems told the students.