%20--%3e%3csvg%20version='1.1'%20id='Nebraska_N'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20x='0px'%20y='0px'%20viewBox='0%200%20163%20152'%20style='enable-background:new%200%200%20163%20152;'%20xml:space='preserve'%3e%3cstyle%20type='text/css'%3e%20.st0{fill:%23FFFFFF;}%20%3c/style%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M159.1,144c-2.3,0-4.1,1.8-4.1,4s1.8,4,4,4s4-1.8,4-4S161.2,144,159.1,144z%20M159,151.2c-1.8,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2%20s1.4-3.2,3.2-3.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.5,3.2,3.2C162.2,149.8,160.8,151.2,159,151.2z'/%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M157.4,145.6h1.4c0.6,0,0.8,0,1.1,0.2c0.4,0.2,0.6,0.6,0.6,1.1c0,0.4-0.1,0.7-0.3,1c-0.1,0.2-0.3,0.2-0.6,0.4%20h-0.1l1.1,2.1h-0.8l-1-2h-0.6v2h-0.8L157.4,145.6L157.4,145.6z%20M158.6,147.7c0,0,0.3,0,0.4,0c0.4-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.6-0.8%20c0-0.3-0.1-0.5-0.4-0.6c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.6,0h-0.4v1.4L158.6,147.7L158.6,147.7z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M147,0H93h-5v5v35v5h5h5v24.8L55.2,2.3L53.7,0H51H5H0v5v35v5h5h5v62H5H0v5v35v5h5h54h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V82.2%20l42.8,67.5l1.5,2.3h2.7h46h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V45h5h5v-5V5V0H147z%20M150,5v35v3h-3h-7v66h7h3v3v35v3h-3h-46h-1.6l-0.9-1.4L52,75.3%20V109h7h3v3v35v3h-3H5H2v-3v-35v-3h3h7V43H5H2v-3V5V2h3h46h1.7l0.9,1.4L100,76.7V43h-7h-3v-3V5V2h3h54h3V5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M103,87L103,87L51,5H5v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0c0,3.3,0,68.7,0,72l0,0c-2.2,0-10,0-10,0v35h54v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0%20c0-2.6,0-47,0-47l52,82h46v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0c0-3.3,0-68.7,0-72c2.2,0,10,0,10,0V5H93v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0%20C103,42.6,103,87,103,87z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Nebraska student-athletes are no strangers to one-on-one mentoring programs. Over the years, many student-athletes, including the entire current roster of the Husker women's golf team, have volunteered for the Teammates Mentoring program founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne. In a similar fashion to Teammates, the Husker Connect program was created to match a Husker student-athlete and a Lincoln Public Schools student based on a similar interest or shared life experience for a weekly, one-hour meeting.
Since 2007, Husker student-athletes have made this weekly commitment through the Husker Connect program to visit a young boy or girl at their school to help with personal and academic development while serving as a positive role-model in all aspects of life.
Football student-athlete C.J. Zimmerer, a member of the 2011 Brook Berringer Citizenship Team, has enjoyed serving as a Husker Connect volunteer. He remarked, "I was honored to participate and it is neat to have the opportunity to help shape a young person's future." Added Zimmerer, "I focus on listening, being attentive and reinforcing the fundamental values that have helped me get to where I am today."
In addition to the weekly school visits, a culminating stadium visit takes place in the spring giving the mentee, their family, and a school representative insight into the lives of a Husker student-athlete. The student-athlete mentors host a tour of the stadium and then the group dines at the Lewis Training Table located in West Memorial Stadium.
Coordinated by Life Skills Assistant Billy Coby, the Husker Connect program consisted of 15 matches this year, including several repeat connections featuring student-athletes Ashley Guile (softball) and Jessica Periago (basketball).
Special thanks to the following student-athletes for their yearlong commitment to the Husker Connect Program:
- Brittnee Habbib, Gymnastics
- Ashley Guile, Softball
- Mary Klosterman, Track and Field
- Karen LaCour, Track and Field
- Michael McClure, Football
- Chantae McMillan, Track and Field
- Terrence Moore, Football
- Kassandra Nathe, Gymnastics
- Jessica Periago, Basketball
- Megan Southworth, Softball
- Donovan Vestal, Football
- Latravis Washington, Football
- Hannah Werth, Volleyball
- Saige Wright, Softball
- C.J. Zimmerer, Football