Celebrating Those Who Lead the Way in Union County
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Every spring, Union County Family Connection hosts a Mentor Appreciation Banquet to honor and show appreciation to community members who serve as mentors to 107 students in the school system. On April 30, 75 guests gathered at the Union County Community Center for a celebration.
Kim and Joe Tatman, a married couple who serve as mentors, opened with prayers of thanksgiving and guidance for mentors and mentees. While mentors enjoyed their meals, John O’Neal with IONA Integrative Health acknowledged the mentors’ gifts of time, energy, and love to their mentees. John also spoke about the importance of safety and attunement, two aspects that play a huge role in connecting mentors with student mentees.
Diana White, a new mentor, expressed the positive role her grandmother filled in her own life and the void she felt when her grandmother passed; she recognized the importance of listening well and being fully present for a child.
Jovanni Deparias, a student mentee, articulated specific ways his mentor encouraged him over the past five years. Banquet guests rose to their feet with a standing ovation for Jovanni, who closed with an original rap.
Other highlights from the banquet included honoring Ron Emerich, a beloved mentor who passed away in October. Ron’s wife and two sons were in attendance to hear Kailyn Cornwell, Union County Middle School Counselor, read a letter from Ron’s student mentee, expressing how much Mr. Ron meant to him throughout their time together.
Donavan Rillion, minister and mentor, sang “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” an upbeat tune to remind us that ultimately, friendship between a child and adult is the ultimate goal of mentorship. Mentor Coordinator, Kathryn Nelson, played and performed a song titled “You Show Up” to voice her gratitude for the mentors’ dedication through their weekly interactions with students.
The mentorship program is one facet of Union County Family Connection. Community members meet with students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade once a week, on school grounds for 30 minutes.
Union County Family Connection convenes partners to develop and work together on integrated strategies to improve child, family, and community well-being—equipping them with the tools and methods they need to be more effective. The rate of children with a substantiated incident of abuse and/or neglect (per 1,000) in Union County is 11, compared to 4.5 in Georgia, highlighting the need for targeted solutions to support children.
Union County Family Connection is a member of the Georgia Family Connection statewide network, working alongside children, families, and communities across the state to craft local solutions that maximize resources and make systems more effective and efficient.
If you would like to serve as a mentor to a student, contact Coordinator Katy Jones at 706-835-4351 or knelson@ucschools.org.