West Mabee Mentors Motivate Dozens Towards College

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

― William Arthur Ward

Mentors are important in our six Boys & Girls Clubs. They can make a difference in a child’s life. That became evident at West Mabee where recently 24 teens graduated high school and are now  college freshman. 

Giddings with teen mentees

“It’s a sense of accomplishment,” says Club Director Jamar Gibbings, who has been at West Mabee for the past 12 years. “I’ve never seen that many go to college at the same time.”

West Mabee alumni are attending colleges all across the state:

• 8 = Rogers State University (RSU)
• 4 = Bacone College
• 4 = Tulsa Community College (TCC)
• 3 = Northeastern Oklahoma Junior College (NEO)
• 3 = University of Central Oklahoma (UCO)
• 1 = Connors State
• 1 = University of Oklahoma (OU)

Many kids in the neighborhood surrounding West Mabee are faced with a choice after high school, continue their education and become better citizens or take what they have and try to make it without getting into trouble.  Out of a group of 25 teens who grew up together, 24 of them chose higher education. 

 “We’ve known these kids since they were in first and second grade. All had serious issues at home,” he says. “The staff showed these kids that they can go to school and college and become whatever they want.”

Teens on a college tour @ Langston University

We didn’t have to really push these kids, they were self-motivated. They knew they wanted to go to college and took steps to make it happen.”  

One of freshmen is Anthony Wilson, who is also our Youth of the Year. When Wilson came to West Mabee, he was a victim of abuse and had an older brother in jail. Giddings became his mentor and took him to church and bowling, among other places. Wilson looked at Giddings as a role model, someone he wanted to be like as he got older. 

2013 Youth of the Year: Anthony Wilson

Wilson is a great basketball player and saw that as a way to get into college. Giddings helped Wilson fill out applications, and he is now a freshman at Bacone College on a basketball scholarship. Although getting into college through sports is great, Giddings stressed to Wilson it’s important to get educated.

 
We appreciate mentors like Giddings and all the volunteers/staff at our Boys & Girls Clubs who are truly making an impact in our community!

-Carrie