Dragons As Mentors: Big Brothers Big Sisters

HutchCC students become mentors to local youth

Photos | Kaitlyn Seiwert

Story & Design | Kira Crow

Eva Schwertfeger, Turon; Peyton; Jolliff; and Paula Urias, Madrid, Spain, smile for a picture at The Alley.

Photo| Kaitlyn Seiwert

Even on a college campus, there’s a need for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). At Hutchinson Community College, members of this club are paired with youth in the local school system in a mentoring relationship. “Bigs” are the college students who are paired with a “Little” youth from the local elementary and middle school system in the Hutchinson and Reno County area.

Big Brothers began in 1904 when a court clerk named Ernest Coulter saw an increasing number of boys come through his courtroom. He decided that he wanted to help these kids stay out of trouble, so he set out to find adult volunteers to be good influences on the kids. This was the beginning of the Big Brothers movement. In 1970, Big Sisters was incorporated. Shortly after, in 1977, the two clubs merged to form the BBBS of America. Today, there are over 300 agencies in all 50 states and 12 countries. BBBS has served nearly two million youth just within this past decade. HutchCC is proud to be a part of the Bigs Movement.

Twice a month, there are meetings where the Bigs and Littles at HutchCC get together and go do fun things in the community. In March, they had a bowling night at The Alley.

Schwertfeger and Jolliff laugh while playing Dutch Blitz at the HutchCC Bigs game night.

Photo| Kaitlyn Seiwert

Students can join this club at any time, they just need to contact club sponsor Lisa Jolliff who also serves as the Coordinator of Accessibility Services on campus. She has been a part of this club for five years. This year, there are around 25 college students in the club.

As for her favorite thing about this club, Jolliff said, “seeing the connections from the Bigs and Littles, so seeing the college kids become mentors to little kids and seeing that relationship just build and blossom has been really fun to see. It’s just really been a lot of fun having those kids coming to our activities. But really just seeing the growth in both the Littles and the Bigs.”

Jolliff was involved with Bigs prior to her time at HutchCC and thought that it would be an excellent club to have on campus, especially for the Leadership Scholars. This club has been very beneficial and the Bigs have a very positive impact on the Littles involved.

Morgan Miller, Hutchinson, and her Little, Peyton, pose while bowling at The Alley. The girls have been matched for almost two years.

Photo| Kaitlyn Seiwert

“That’s really been the neat part, I’ve just seen kids who don’t have good role models in their life or who are lacking in that, and to have somebody who really cares about them, that’s been really neat to see,” Jolliff said.

Denise Brodsky is the Area Manager for BBBS in Reno County. She has been involved since 2020 and this organization has had a huge impact on her life.

“We’re there to be sort of like their best friend. Not to replace a parent or guardian, but to be there as their best friend,” she said about how HutchCC students participate in the club.

Students who join HutchCC Bigs have the opportunity to be matched with a Little, but they do not have to have a match in order to be a part of the club. According to Kansasbigs.org, 90% of former Littles report that their mentor made them feel better about themselves, and 76% learned right from wrong from their mentor.

“So many of them just need a positive role model outside of their parents, and watching the Big and the Little share life experiences together is very rewarding and shows the results of how important it is to have a mentor in a child’s life,” Brodsky said.

Ellie Flynn, Lindsborg, and her Little, Layla, smile for a picture at The Alley.

Photo| Kaitlyn Seiwert

Debating on whether or not to join HutchCC Bigs? Brodsky has advice.

“Just do it. I mean it’s really simple. Just do you. You don’t have to be someone special. There’s a Little waiting for you. You’re not committing enormous amounts of time. It boils down to an hour or two a month which just about anybody can carve out of their schedule. The time on your phone could’ve been spent hanging out with your Little. You don’t have to be connected to an inanimate object, be connected to a living, breathing child,” she said.

Morgan Miller, Hutchinson, is a sophomore and has been in HutchCC Bigs for almost two years. She is a mentor to Peyton, an 11 year old girl from a local elementary school. Miller and Peyton meet every two weeks and go do fun activities such as bowling, skating, or going out to dinner. Miller is very glad she decided to join the club because of her and Peyton’s close friendship.

“I affected her life by just being a mentor and being someone she feels like she can confide in and have a close friendship with,” Miller said. “If you can, I would definitely advise you to try to get matched with a Little, it’s such a great experience and such a great relationship.”

According to guidestar.org, in 2019, there were 2,149 Littles with matches just in Kansas.

Brodsky said, “Our youths are our future and I couldn’t think of a better organization or program to be involved with.”

Members of HutchCC Bigs at The Alley for bowling night in March.

Photo| Kaitlyn Seiwert