RED BUD, Ill. – State Representative David Friess (R-Red Bud) would like to thank all of the participants in the Fall 2022 session of the Women’s Leadership Initiative. We are so very pleased with the mentors that volunteered to be a part of the Women’s Leadership Initiative – Fall 2022 – Mentorship Program as well as the mentees that were selected to be a part of the program.
We feel as though the program has been a great success. Our students and our mentors gained a great deal of respect for each other while advocating success.
The following professionals were our Mentors: Joyce Carnahan – Retired Educator and Owner of Market on Main in Red Bud, Rita Sickmeyer – Owner of Ez Travel, Sparta, Rebecca Cooper – Attorney at Law – Cooper, Gilbreth, & Doyle Law, Red Bud, and Dainelle Powell – Business Administrator – Chester Mental Health.
Our Mentee selects were: Aylah Copple – Sparta High School – Senior, America Gutierrez – Southwestern Illinois College – Sophomore, Anna Wolter – Red Bud High School – Senior, and Hanna Colvis – Chester High School – Senior.
Our Mentors were matched with a mentee with similar interests, career paths, and geographic familiarity. During our Fall Session, our students were able to work toward the goals that they set at the beginning of the program.
Our mentors worked with their mentees to help them with personal and career goals. Rita helped Hanna develop a plan to put in place a program at Chester High School that they named “Just for Jackets,” providing food for community members in need during the holidays. She also learned how to communicate with others and get out of her comfort zone.
Dainelle helped Aylah learn how to apply for college and narrow down her choices as well as different ways to put herself out there and contact different people. She was also introduced to a professional in forensic science that gave her advice when approaching education and internships.
Joyce was able to help Anna meet with educators and set shadowing opportunities for her to see firsthand what it would be like to be an educator. She also introduced her to professionals in engineering which is another potential path she is considering. Rebecca helped America in her career search and was routinely available for questions and advice.
We are truly grateful for several leaders that have been available for our mentees throughout the program. We searched for strong leaders that could help advise our students. The following professionals gave of their time. Senator Terri Bryant, Mayor-Elect Susan Harbaugh of Red Bud. Councilor – Dana Barrows Dawn LaPorte – Forensic Scientist. We have planned a dinner that will be held in January, Speakers will include: Stacey Glenn – Southwest Region Manager of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, and Angie Stewart Brown – Associate Director, Campus & Community Liaison-Southwestern Illinois College.
Some of our Mentors will remain through our winter session and mentor the next group of students but we are always searching for Strong Women Leaders that would like to share their skills and knowledge with our up-and-coming leaders. Special thanks also go to all of the Area School Principals and Administrators that were a part of the mentee selection process. We are looking forward to January and the new mentees and mentors that will join our program.