Grand Island TeamMates Chapter Wins North Central Regional Chapter of the Year Award
GRAND ISLAND (Neb.) — “Join the Team. Be a Mentor.” That is the mission that has empowered hundreds of Grand Island area students through the impact of mentoring.
For those dedicated efforts, the Grand Island Teammates Mentoring Chapter was recently recognized as a statewide leader in fostering positive student connections.
The Grand Island TeamMates mentoring chapter is proud to announce it has been named the North Central Regional Chapter of the Year.
The Annual Regional Chapter of the Year Award recognizes a TeamMates chapter's outstanding dedication to:
Mentor Recruitment
Making New Matches
Engaging the Community
Building Brand Awareness
Upholding the TeamMates Mission
The award highlights the hard work and commitment of the chapter's staff, board, and, most importantly, dedicated mentors who volunteer their time to make a difference in the lives of Middle School and High School students across Grand Island.
"TeamMates Mentoring program in Grand Island has served hundreds of students since the chapter began in 1999. 435 mentors from the community have stepped up over the years to make sure these students felt supported and heard.” Melissa Almond, Grand Island TeamMates Program Coordinator, shared. “TeamMates mission is to positively impact the world by inspiring students to reach their full potential through mentoring. The program has seen the impact it has had on the students, mentors and the community. We’ve heard time and time again that both the mentors and the mentees experience personal growth and a sense of fulfillment from being in the program. We have mentees that have now become mentors because of the impact it has had on them. We are honored that the Grand Island TeamMates chapter was awarded the North Central Chapter of the Year. We aren’t successful without the building coordinators, mentors, mentees, board members and the incredible supportive four school districts in Grand Island. It’s never too late to be a part of this great organization! Join the team. Be a Mentor.”
What started out with twenty-two Husker football players mentoring some middle school students in Lincoln, Nebraska has turned into one of the most successful mentoring programs in the nation. Now thirty years later TeamMates has served over 50,000 students in six states.
The TeamMates Mentoring Program was founded in 1991 by Tom and Nancy Osborne with a simple, inspiring mission: To positively impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring. The program serves thousands of students and is committed to providing a caring adult for every student who needs one.
Specifically in Grand Island, TeamMates Mentoring has been present in the community since 1999. And now, 26 years later, TeamMates is thriving in serving Barr, Walnut, & Westridge Middle Schools, Dodge Elementary, Grand Island Senior High, Northwest Public Schools, Grand Island Lutheran, and Grand Island Central Catholic. A true testament to the community’s commitment to student achievement.
Seeing the mentoring program grow through the years is a source of great pride for Dianne Schneider, Grand Island TeamMates Board Member.
“I am so proud and honored to be a part of TeamMates.” Schneider said. “It’s an amazing program that proves that just by “being there” you can make a difference, bring hope to a young person, and help them reach their full potential! Personally, I have seen that firsthand here in our Grand Island Chapter. My first mentee received the Osborn Legacy Scholarship providing full tuition at Hastings College. She is now a college graduate, wife, mother, and giving back to the community as a TeamMates mentor. What a joy to have been part of her journey and experience this ripple effect!”
Looking forward to the 2025-26 school year, Grand Island TeamMates already reports 97 Mentor-to-Mentee matches. With a growing list of Grade students expressing interest in being connected with a mentor, the growth of the award-winning TeamMates chapter shows no signs of slowing down. And all of the efforts focused on one simple thing:
Be there for students.
“The Teammates program is truly driven through teamwork and community involvement.” Schneider reflected. “I’m excited and honored that our Grand Island chapter received the North Central Chapter of the Year award! This recognition ignites my passion to make sure that every person in Grand Island knows what TeamMates is.”
To learn more about the TeamMates program visit https://teammates.org/ or contact Melissa Almond, Grand Island TeamMates Program Coordinator, to inquire about becoming a mentor at [email protected].