The MLK Mentoring Program held its annual art show celebrating the impressions of mentees and mentors from the past year through creative works. Mentees designed writings, art, photography, and crafts that were displayed. The event invited families and friends to view the student works and accomplishments. Special thanks were given to community partners who supported the program with supplies and instruction. The document provides details about various program activities throughout the year, including field trips, guest speakers, and reflections from mentors on the impact of the program.

1. MLK Mentoring Program April 2013
MLK action shots! Check inside for stories!
MLK celebrates 2nd Annual Art Show
The MLK Annual Art Show presents outstanding
impressions across the year that mentee/mentors have
about the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mentoring
Program. These impressions are shown through the
creation of activities, projects, and people with whom
they have interacted.
Mentees design and create personal writings, prose,
poetry, photography and art pieces which are then
matted, framed, mounted and displayed. Other bead
bracelets and art pieces are designed and created during
the Crafts Elective and also displayed during the show.
It is a visual celebration of the successes and strides
that the MLK Program strives to make every year.
Parents, faculty, administration and friends of mentees
and mentors are invited to attend and celebrate their
accomplishments, meet the artists and enjoy special
entertainment and refreshments.
Special thanks to Crawford Heritage Community
Foundation for providing our art supplies. As a result,
more students were able to participate and create art
projects. And thanks to Meadville Council on the Arts
for their help advising, planning and class instruction
in preparation for this event.
Bulldog Beat
Dream it! Dare it! Do it!
Sara Fung organizes a crafts activity for
mentees and mentors. They are using their
creativity to make bracelets that express
and represent their individuality.
MLK Service Learning,
making a difference
Mentors and mentees traveled to Grace
Health Center this year and spent Saturdays
getting to know residents there by interacting
with them, providing activities, and forming
mutually beneficial relationships through
conversation, craft projects and games.
They are pictured celebrating Christmas with
songs and stories around the Christmas tree.
Rina Rough,
7th grader,
performs a creative
dance to the music
of "When You're
Gone” by Avril
Lavigne at the
"Lift Every Voice"
celebration held at
Allegheny College
in February.

2. MLK enjoys “Lift Every Voice”
In February, MLK mentees, their mentors, parents, and friends, traveled to
Allegheny College, Ford Chapel, for “Lift Every Voice”, a program sponsored
by the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Success, and the Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Board. The performance, celebrating
the arts, featured inspired poetry and music written and produced by students
from Meadville Area High School, Middle School and Allegheny College.
Comments from those who attended ...
“Lift Every Voice” was important because it
was my first event with MLK. It was marvelous
to see all the students and mentors participating
together. I was proud to watch them perform,
especially since I was too nervous to have
signed up myself! Alyssa King
Watching the mentees perform at “Lift Every
Voice” - seeing them up there, showing off
their various talents - was something touching
and singularly beautiful. Manuel Marquez
A lot of people were participating and really
trying hard to do a good job. They had so
much fun that it inspired me to be in the Art
Show. And a lot of our family members were
there which was nice because they got to see
our hard work and what MLK was all about.
Allie Riede
My favorite field trip was “Lift Every Voice” because I got to go to Allegheny
College to sing for everyone. It was fun to perform and I felt very good about
it afterwards. Kaylee Frye
I really liked “Lift Every Voice” because
I got to see cool talents. Rina’s dance was
my favorite performance because she
was really good. I really want to go next
year because now I think I might want to
perform! Dakota Powell
When I practiced reading my poem
“O Captain, my Captain” in rehearsal,
I messed up, so I was especially worried
and nervous about messing up in front
of an audience. Once I started reciting
my poem the night of the performance,
however, I relaxed and knew it would ok.
Brittany Beck
Empowering students to be successful in a changing world!
Goals of the MLK
Mentoring Program
Assist students in mastering
their school work
Help students increase
their level of self-confidence
and independence
Provide character
and community-building
activities
Maintain a connection
with teachers and keep them
informed about the progress
of the students enrolled
in the program
Provide incentives for
students to reach their goals
Photography
Dr. Armendia P. Dixon,
Sara Fung, Daizy Guzman
Editor
Mrs. Joy Link
MLK Program Staff
Dr. Armendia P. Dixon,
Program Director
Mrs. Joy Link,
Process Observer
Coordinators
Laura O'Campo,
Seventh Grade
Daisy Guzman, Seventh Grade
Sara Fung, Eighth Grade
Nicholas Schake,
Bonner Scholar
Angela Bui, Bonner Scholar
Mr. Scott Lynch, Principal
Mr. Jon Frye, Assistant
Principal
Nick Schake recites an
original poem that tells
the tale of where he finds
the "can do" attitude
he practices every day.
Mackenzie Stahlman
and Kaylee Frye sing
"Fireworks" by Katy Perry.

3. MLK - up close and personal!
Celebrity Speakers offer advice
and encouragement
Celebrity Speakers spent time with students this
year describing the work they do and the skills
and education they need to prepare for their jobs.
Students practiced writing skills by taking notes
and sending letters thanking the speakers for
coming and for sharing inspiring words of advice
and encouragement.
In February, students had the
opportunity to take a closer
look at the world of work
with celebrity speaker Mr.
Rob Smith, President,
Acutec Precision Machining
Inc. He talked about his job,
what it takes to be successful,
and the four simple “truths”
they live by at Acutec:
1. Always be lucky. To be lucky you have to
work at being lucky; getting the right education
and experience and then when luck comes to your
door, recognizing the opportunity and acting
upon it.
2. Wake up paranoid every morning. We know
every day somebody has figured out a better way
to do something, so every day we also better be
figuring. All our past success does not guarantee
our future.
3. There will be change, so get used to it. The
technology you are working with today will not
be the technology tomorrow.
Be prepared and don’t fight change: embrace it.
4. Life is unfair, learn it while you are young.
Sometimes when we are thrown a setback by
things that may be out of our control, we just have
to go back and work harder on truth number one.
Crying won’t change reality.
We all took good notes because we decided these
“truths” were worth remembering! Below is
another “truth” we believe is important!
Excellence is never an accident.
It is always the result of high intention,
determined effort and skilled execution.
A Hero in Every Heart, H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
“You’re a good man,
Charlie Brown”
Directed by Lee Scandinaro
and Leanne Siwicki
Lee Scandinaro and Leanne
Siwicki were MLK mentors last
year, so they brought the cast from
their play to MLK for a special
visit. We played games, sang songs
and presented some scenes from the
show. Everybody had a good time!
Below are comments from some of the mentees
who participated.
Today, we had the college drama club come to M.L.K and
do some activities with us. We made a story, played a taxi
game, and also played a ball game. It was fun! I played
many roles in the taxi game. Brianna Bish
I learned a couple of things today. The first thing was if you
want to do something just put your mind to it. The second
thing was if you love what you do, keep doing it and stick
with it. KeShawn Arnold
That was really fun. I liked the games we played. I learned
that Drama is for everyone. It could also be a blast.
Kayla Foulk
Today we had drama and we played 3 different games but
my favorite was the taxi game because you could be any
person you wanted to be and everyone in the taxi had to do
what you did. Then in the drama group, I saw Lee and
Leanne from last year and I enjoyed seeing them again.
Brittany Beck
Theater was fun and very dramatic. Remember
if you’re blind, get a Martian friend. Diandra Newsome
What’s happening
here? In the Taxi
game, you had to
play an “original”
role, and anyone
who got into the
taxi after you had
to copy your
performance!
It was hilarious!

4. From the desk of the MLK Director …
Dear Students,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mentoring Program is very dear to
my heart and it is with sadness that I must leave it. I have learned
so many lessons from you – lessons to grow on – lessons I will take
with me to my work as Executive Director of the Crawford County
READ Program – my work in the church and community.
Perhaps the lessons to grow on are wrapped up in the question
a middle school teacher asked me one day, “Why do the students
leave the MLK Program smiling?”
The answer may be that in the MLK Program we have come to
know that we can genuinely appreciate and respect each other for
our uniqueness; we can laugh together and still be serious about
our mission. Or the answer may be that you are motivated to
achieve academically, proud to improve in your grades and proud
to know that more and more, you can even make Honor Roll and
High Honors. On the other hand, my response may be that you
enjoy getting to know the rich community in which you live and
the people who help to make it so. Then I am sure you smile
because you have dedicated and qualified mentors and Bonners
from Allegheny College who are interested in helping you on your
journey of dream building and making those dreams come true.
Also, it is evident that your parents, superintendent, principal,
Allegheny College and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship
Board and many sponsors support you and are confident that one
day you will join other adults in making Meadville and the world
an even greater place in which to live, work and raise a family.
Always remember that learning about yourself/others, learning
what your teachers have to share with you, reading all you can
and spending time with your family can be the most exciting and
meaningful adventures in life. These will take you places you have
never been before.
Dr. Armendia P. Dixon
Thank you to those who have
helped our program to grow,
to prosper, and to be successful.
Partners in Education, College/School Collaborative Grant
Crawford Heritage Community Foundation
Rotary Club
Marquette Savings Bank
Kim Kinnear, Manager, Long John Silver’s Restaurant
Denny Paytus, Manager, Giant Eagle
Beverly Nutter, Director, Meadville Soup Kitchen
Laura O’Campo, Union-Latina, Allegheny College
MAMSPAC
Dr. Elizabeth A. Stewart
In and out of the classroom - it’s what’s happening!
Mentees’ Reflections on MLK
I like service learning because I like to
help others. It makes me feel good to see
a smile and know that I made a difference
in a person’s life by volunteering.
Erica
Through my time spent at MLK, I have
worked my best and improved by using
flash cards, the PSSA Practice Booklet,
by practicing math on Study Island, and
last but not least, doing my homework.
I got my grade up to a 91% and also I’m
going to be in Academic Algebra One.
Abbie
I learned to admire qualities of the other
mentees and was inspired to adopt those
qualities. Now I want to be more outgoing
like many of the mentees and mentors.
Becky
I have been inspired to write more, and
have become a better writer, thanks to
MLK. I have also become more confident
in myself. I enjoyed studying in new, fun
ways and learned to follow my dreams.
I have learned to never give up on myself
or my dreams; I will take that all the way
with me to college and beyond.
Lillian
MLK has helped me get my grades up and
on track. They have helped me understand
things and made me smarter! My favorite
moments are when guest speakers talked
about their jobs and what they do.
Chrissy
Erika Clayton and Teshawn Boyer play
the board game “Sorry” with Norma
Taylor, a resident of Wesbury.

5. “‘Lift Every Voice’ was an important for me because it
was my first event with MLK. It was marvelous to see
all the students and mentors participate together. I was
proud to watch them all perform, especially since I was
too nervous to have signed up myself! ‘Lift Every Voice’
and the MLK Program have been rewarding experiences.
I have had the opportunity to see the students grow and
succeed inside and outside of the classroom. MLK has
given me a love for aiding youth and becoming a positive
influence in their lives. I have grown to appreciate and
understand my students; it is truly rewarding to see their
improvements over a few months.” Alyssa King
“MLK has inspired a greater passion in education within
me than I already had. It has taught me that teaching isn’t
just about transferring information and knowledge to
another person’s head; it is about understanding who your
mentee is as a human being and reaching out to them based
on their unique personality. Manuel Marquez
“MLK has made me learn how children are valuable and
how they can lighten my day. They have inspired me to
work hard to offer my future child a good life with lots
of education. My favorite moment is every day at work.
Number one lesson I learned was that although life seems
like it’s at its lowest point, continue, struggle, take risks,
and accept changes (from celebrity speaker, Rob Smith).”
Francisco Quezada
“MLK has helped me grow immensely as a person. I have
become more patient, more willing to listen, and more
ready to help others. The willingness of the mentees to
better themselves every session has challenged me to do
the same in my own life. My favorite moments are when
my mentees tell me or show me how much they appreciate
my work. It really reignites my passion and dedication to
the program. The most important lesson I’ve learned is
that it takes only one person who cares to change the path
of a young person’s life.” Nick Schake
“I’ve learned a lot about myself and society this past year
in MLK. I rediscovered the ambition and excitement that
middle schoolers possess and often saw my 13 year old
self in my mentees. I looked back to my thoughts, passions
and ambitions I had at 13 and thought about what I could
have done at that age to improve my present. So I have
guided and inspired my mentees to have a better work
ethic, more self-esteem, and to better explore their hobbies/
passions. My favorite moment is this one because my
mentee just told me the #1 thing she learned from me was
to never give up on yourself and your dreams. I must have
done my job well!” Shyann Kubasik
Reflections on the year from our MLK mentors ....
“MLK has had a great impact on my life. Whether working
with my mentees on a difficult homework assignment or
showing off their amazing talents, my time spent at MLK
was incredibly rewarding. I loved spending time with my
mentees because I saw how much they had to contribute
and it was wonderful to see them and grow.”
Olivia Walter
“Everyone is fighting a battle. You may never know
someone’s history, but that unknown history determines
their behavior. So as much as you may judge someone’s
behavior, finding the root of their behavior is more
effective than simply reprimanding a behavior. This is
applicable to more than just the MLK Program. The same
circumstances arise with families, friendships and careers.”
Victoria Grimm
“As a mentor, MLK has inspired me each and every day.
Every time I come to work I am able to interact with the
mentees and see the world differently. Being a mentor
allows me to build relationships that not only teach me,
but also hopefully, inspire the student to reach their full
potential.” Meghan Veglia
“MLK has been a great opportunity for me to learn. It’s
so easy to forget how far we’ve all come. This program
truly exemplifies how everyone is different and each has
his/her own challenges to overcome. I personally believe
the mentees have taught me more than I may have taught
them. Their dedication has inspired me to never give up
on my own goals.” Annabel Zinn
“MLK has impacted me in many different ways. I can
communicate with others better. The students inspire me
to continue working hard because of how hard they work.
I have many favorite moments but one of them I really
enjoyed was the Piñata Party because they were so excited
when they were hitting the piñata. One of many lessons
I have learned is to be patient and understanding with
others because sometimes they could be struggling with
their own personal lives.” Eduardo Ramos
“Being an MLK has shown me how much influence I can
have in a child’s life. Young teenagers can have the
President stand in front of them and tell them what steps
to take in life in order to succeed, and still not be inspired.
Actually having older college students around them, to
motivate them and help them through their problems, has
a greater impact. Both of my mentees have opened up to
me through the course of the semester and told me about
their dreams and ambitions. We have our off days where
finishing homework assignments can be difficult.
However, overall, I have seen an improvement in their
school work and personalities.” Ally Razzano

6. S Study longer.
T Take better control
of my emotions.
E Excel in a foreign language.
W Want less.
A Ask for help when needed.
R Run with Dad.
T Talk more.
Lillian Stewart
C Create new friends.
H High honors is my goal.
A Achieve straight A’s.
R Reach 8th
grade.
B Block my temper.
O Organize my locker.
N Never fail.
E Eat less.
O Occasionally win.
Tyler Charboneao
L Learn all you can.
O Open new doors
R Reach your goal.
D Do your best.
Joshua Lord
A Always do my work on time.
L Learn Spanish better.
L Learn more algebra.
E Enjoy my days better.
N Never fail to try.
Aaron Allen
Acrostics help MLK mentees set goals ....
W Work on my assignments.
A Always do assignments on time.
D Do my best.
E Expect to be on the honor roll.
William Wade
B Be myself.
I Intelligence is important.
S Show my talents.
H Have friends.
Brianna Bish
A A high achiever
R Ready for action
N Never give up
E Ecstatic
T Try hard
T Trustworthy
Audria Arnett
A Always do my best.
R Record my own song one day.
N New things to learn everyday
O Want less.
L Learn new things.
D Do great in high school.
Ke ‘Shaun Arnold
S Study better than I do now.
N Nobody can change me
no matter what they say.
Y Yearn to do better than the best.
D Do my best I everything.
E Enjoy what I have in life.
R Read more than I do now.
Elaina Snyder