Onteora students participating in the high school’s community mentor program shared what they had learned and accomplished during their mentorships on the evening of June 6. The community mentor program offers students in Grades 9-12 the opportunity to pursue their interests and passions — and perhaps their “dream” careers — with the guidance of community-based professionals.
The student presenters had engaged in a variety of subjects during their mentorships — including the fine arts, engineering and robotics, veterinary medicine, real estate, pastry-making and more. Sharing stories from their mentorships, the students spoke of the practical knowledge they had gained, the friendships they had made, and the personal growth they had experienced.
Grade 11 student David Troeger, whose dream job, he says, would be to work for ESPN, explored sports journalism with Crispin Kott of Hudson Valley One. Troeger, who had previously published work in magazines such as BimmerLife, said he enjoyed his mentorship experience because it gave him the opportunity to explore different types of writing. “Rather than just reporting on what happened in games, I worked on a piece that explored more of my own perspectives and opinions,” he said. The piece he wrote, which spotlighted Onteora High School sports, is included below, with photographs from another student in the program, Grade 11 student Natalie Hastie.
Hastie, who studied sports photography with New York City-based photographer Ira L. Black, said that her mentorship increased her knowledge about lighting and how to use photos to tell a story. Her selection of photographs on display reflected her love for photography and sports. Though she may not pursue photography as a career, she says that one of her dreams would be to take photographs at the World Cup.
The following is a full list of students in this year’s community mentor program: Eve Batista and Hazel Storch, figure drawing with the Woodstock School of Art; Oscar Espinoza, engineering with John Schultheis; Fiona Green, illustration with Mike DuBois; Sean Hallinan, real estate sales with Peter Cantine; Natalie Hastie, sports photography with Ira L. Black; Protus Mayunga, photography with Phil Mansfield; Olivia McHugh, Melanie Milla and Madeline Mills, engineering and robotics with FALA Technologies; Jake Hawk Slater, veterinary medicine with Arkville Veterinary Care; Cosimo Spiotta, pastry-making with Blue Mountain Bistro-To-Go; David Troeger, sports journalism with Crispin Kott of Hudson Valley One; and Lucinda Jennings, music recording with Kevin Salem.
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