The Technician

There are many clubs and organizations at Kettering University that contribute and give back to the Flint community and surrounding areas. One such organization is the Kagle Mentoring Program, which was started by GMI alumnus Bob Kagle. Through his generous contribution to Kettering University, the Kagle Mentoring Program is able to provide all students with the tools necessary to succeed. The logo of the Kagle Mentoring Program depicts three little men standing on each other’s shoulders. This visually represents what mentoring is all about, giving someone the boost the need to reach the next level.

The Kagle Mentoring program is separated into five different sections; Community Tutoring, CREEK (Creating Relationships that Educate and Enrich Kids), Kagle Future Leaders (KFL), Kagle InTellectual Endeavors (KITE), and Kagle Success Starters (KSS). Community tutoring offers free tutoring to Genesee County students from K-16 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at Kettering University in the sunset room. The tutors are Kagle mentors and other volunteer students on campus. KSS is a one-on-one mentoring program for elementary school students. The goal of the KSS is to introduce positive ideals and influences at an early age in order to simulate growth and the usage of full potential. KSS also host activities the  children of Whaley’s Child Center in Flint, MI.

 The CREEK program is designed for high school students as a forum where students can comfortably talk about issues that concern them and receive positive advice and feedback. Topics discussed range from college planning to relationships. The purpose of the KITE program is to expose high school students to enriching culture activities that not readily available to them in their community.  Students participate in activities such as outdoor/physical activities, performing arts, science/history museums, and community service.  Middle school students are encouraged to participate in KFL, which provides monthly community service activities geared towards bettering the Flint community (www.kettering.edu/kagle). The monthly community service projects are chosen by the middle school students themselves and facilitated by Kagle mentors.

In effort to improve the program, Kagle’s lead mentors recently attended the 22^nd Annual International Mentoring Association Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. During this conference the mentors attended different workshops that discussed different aspects of mentoring and effective methods that have proven successful in programs around the country. Mentoring programs of all kinds were represented and program leaders were encouraged to exchange ideas and successful program implementations. Since their return, the Kagle mentors have begun implementing new ideas and concepts inspired at the conference. The Kagle Mentoring Program hopes to be able to present their program at the 23^rd Annual International Mentoring Conference in 2010.

            Being a member of the Kagle Mentoring Program requires a great deal of commitment, hard-work, and time, however, the benefits are priceless. Not only do you help change the lives of children in the community, but you also learn and better yourself in the process. The relationships built through the Kagle Mentoring Program last beyond the weeks of the program, these relationships carry on into life beyond Kettering University. "The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed."-Carl Jung

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