BATON ROUGE – Volleyball’s Lauren DeGirolamo along with Shanna Spears from swimming and diving partnered with Heritage Ranch Life Skills Program over the spring semester to mentor local youth. As part of LSU’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), DeGirolamo and Spears served after an introduction to the community program held at Valley Park Alternative School.
DeGirolamo and Spears had to the opportunity to meet with five middle school boys each Tuesday. The program components equip youth to make wiser choices and become contributing members of their local communities.
“It has been a great experience working with these kids,” Spears said. “Sometimes you don’t know if you are getting through to them, but then there is one day where what you say seems to speak to them. Those few minutes where you are getting through to them is worth so much. All these kids need is someone to spend time with them and let them know that they are important and there are people who care about their well being.”
Heritage Ranch provides classes on wise decision making, community mentors, and service learning opportunities to more than 70 expelled youth each week at Valley Park Alternative School.