In April 2012, students at Oneonta Job Corps Academy received an unexpected opportunity.  A local elementary school was looking for mentors for the elemntary classes.  Oneonta Job Corps Academy students were excited by the prospect.  OJCA students signed up in their academic classes and went to an orientation with the elementary school principal and found out that many of the young people in the elementary school come from similar backgrounds as the Job Corps students; underprivileged.

Oneonta Job Corps Academy stuents volunteered at the elementary school one day a week for two hours for a total of seven weeks.  As the weeks progressed, more OJCA students wanted to participate and the students involved witht he program always looked forward to their time at the elementary school. 

During the final weeks of the elementary school’s school year, OJCA students were invite to support their mentees by attending the 2nd grade play and assisting with the schools field day.  The seven week mentoring program was a huge success for the OJCA students who participated and the elementary school students who were influenced by the OJCA students.