Children's Mentoring Connection gives scholarships

FINDLAY — The Foundation for the Continuation of Children's Mentoring Connection of Hancock County has announced the recipients of its 2026 scholarship awards, recognizing outstanding high school mentors and mentees who have demonstrated leadership, commitment and the power of meaningful connections through mentoring. This year's scholarship recipients include mentees Jaycob Bosse and Preston Betts, along with high school mentors Brookanne Busch, Molly-Kate Firestine, Madeline Hudok, Brooke Koenig, Carter Fry, Blayne Colman, Hank Walters and Elise Spears. Recipients represented schools and programs from across Hancock County, including Van Buren Local Schools, Findlay High School, Arcadia Local Schools, Cory-Rawson Local Schools, McComb Local Schools, and community-based mentoring programs through Children's Mentoring Connection of Hancock County. Brookanne served as a mentor throughout all four years of high school while participating in the Teaching Professions program at Millstream Career Center. She plans to attend the University of Findlay to pursue a degree in education and become a teacher. The impact of mentoring was evident throughout the students' scholarship essays. One mentor shared that mentoring helped them become more aware of the example they set for others and how they treat people each day. Another described Wednesdays with their mentee as the highlight of every week, sharing that the friendship and trust they built together became one of the most meaningful parts of their high school experience. An elementary school mentee also shared with his mentor that Wednesdays were "the best day of the week" because he knew he would get to attend mentoring and spend time together. Relationships formed through mentoring often extend far beyond the scheduled weekly sessions, with mentors and mentees continuing to encourage one another in school hallways, classrooms and throughout the community. "These scholarships represent more than academic achievement," said Stacy Shaw, executive director of Children's Mentoring Connection. "They reflect compassion, consistency, leadership and the life-changing impact that can happen when young people invest in one another." Children's Mentoring Connection's school-based mentoring programs pair high school and adult mentors with younger students throughout Hancock County schools. High school students interested in becoming mentors for the 2026–2027 school year can begin the application process now. To learn more or apply to become a mentor, call 419-424-9752 or email info@cmchancock.org.