New Mentoring Program Takes Flight In Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Fifty-three Baltimore college students are on their way to making the city a better place.
Andrea Fujii explains they're part of a first of its kind mentoring program that's about to take flight.
Robots that perform surgery are just one of Victor Ekanem's passions that he hopes to share with middle schoolers.
"Our job is to show the students that robotics is simple. It's just being creative," said Ekanem, Johns Hopkins student.
Ekanem is one of 53 Baltimore college students involved in Baltimore Collegetown LeaderShape.
The program helps participants create their own community service projects.
"Start projects that we hope they'll continue to work on now as students and then after they graduate. So we want them to stay in Baltimore and keep giving back to the community," said Kristen McGuire, Baltimore Collegetown.
In the past year Ekanem has created the Robotics Institute, a mentorship program he hopes to expand.
"We want to bring the name of it, 'The Baltimore Robotics Institute,' and make it a city-wide organization," said Ekanem.
Twelve of the Collegetown participants are involved in city schools at a time when funding is scarce.
"We want any and everybody who's interested in supporting children, and if it's free that's even better," said Tisha Edwards, Baltimore City Schools.
Besides establishing their own projects, some students need to find funding as well. Most like Ekanem received thousands in grants.
They are taking time to help others, on top of their own studies. Organizers say it's the making of greatness.
"I hope that these students become our next generation of leaders in Baltimore," said McGuire.
The leadership students are graduating from their one-year program this week. They're now accepting applications through Friday for next year's class.
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