MENTORING PROGRAM HANDS OUT AWARDS

Missouri Mentoring Partnership, a program that matches adult mentors with young people who need them, recognized its Mentor and Mentee of the Year award recipients at a banquet Monday at Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The partnership has two programs. The job program helps youths get jobs and keep them. Corporate partners designate on-site mentors to help the program participants they employ.

"By having them on the inside and us on the outside, the mentee has a better shot at keeping the job," said Marge Sullivan, Missouri Mentoring Partnership director.

The other program works with pregnant or parenting young adults, educating them and assisting them with prenatal and early childhood education and support.

Youths receiving awards Monday were Savannah Allen, Jimmy Bell, Trina Blackmon, Jacque Bray, Amanda Cowan, Samantha Criddle, Monica Criddle, Steven Criddle, James Dalton, Kevin Dixon, Heather Ferguson, Teketta Fleming, Ria Friedrich, Tiffany Gray, Michelle Griffet, Rachel Guffie, Wendy Hale, Mary Hicks, Hosea Howard, Troas Joiner, Amanda Kenney, Chaquone Lane, Jennifer Leimer, Johnnie Martin, Jessica McCain, Tedra Medley, Carrie Oberle, Betina Ott, Amanda Overy, Viva Ozbun, TaKeysha Robinson, Ivie Rush, Martha Spurlock, Josh Swindle, Thomas Warren, Katrina Watkins, Robyn Wren, Terri Wright, Tabitha Yamnitz.

Recognized mentors included: Ronda Elfrink, Roxanne Hargis, Teresa Harris, Tamara Hull, Donna Jenkins, Michelle Lawrence, Paul Harper of Schnucks and Leonard Spicer of Ryan's Family Steak House in Sikeston.

Event sponsors were Norendia Inc., SoDexHo Marriott and advisory board members Diane Bauman and Hugh MacGowan IV.