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SALISBURY, MD--During the spring and fall, semesters, 15 Salisbury State University education majors work with 30 Mace’s Lane Middle School students in Cambridge, MD as part of the George B. Todd Mentoring Project.

Five faculty mentors from Mace’s Lane and a faculty coordinator will assist SSU education majors. The project provides middle school students with mentoring in academics, social skills and college preparation from SSU education majors who will, in turn, receive support and career mentoring from participating Mace’s Lane faculty.

The $21,294 project is funded by a $16,000 gift to the SSU Foundation from the George B. Todd Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. The remaining funds are an in kind contribution from SSU.

The project started when about 130 Mace’s Lane faculty mentors, SSU student mentors, Mace’s Lane students and their parents attended a luncheon at the middle school. The event featured comments from Dr. Beth Barnett, dean of the Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies, and Dr. Joel Jenne, chair of the Education Department. The Mayor of Cambridge and the Dorchester County Board of Education also offered their support.

The theme for the project is “Think Big”, a connection to the work of Dr. Ben Carson, pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Based on his life as a struggling student, Dr. Carson believes that education can empower anyone to realize their full potential.

Mace’s Lane students will read Dr. Carson’s book and attend a lecture by him in March. Mace’s Lane Principal Ms. Marion Fisher and Dr. Gwen Handy, 2001 county facilitator helped develop the theme.

SSU students involved include Kate Bason of Dover, DE; from New Jersey: Jaclyn Haynes of Petersburg and Jacqueline McGuire of Avon; and from Maryland: Casey Cannon of East New Mark; Kristy Chapple of Huntingtown; Andrew Douds of Walkersville; Bradley George of Brunswick; Danielle Glacken of Stevensville; Kerri Humelsine of Odenton; Robert Martin of Hughesville; Richard Riley of Clarksburg; Cynthia Sturgis of Hurlock; Angela Vaughns of Brandywine; Ashley Walser of Huntingtown and Jessica Whipps of Ellicott City.

Dr. Amy Meekins, faculty liaison, attended Mace’s Lane in ninth grade and taught in Dorchester County for 12 years. Mace’s Lane faculty includes Kimberly Flair, Sherri Murphy, Missy Kenny, Heidi Newcomb, and Kelly Carey. Their coordinator is Rob Morse. For information visit the University’s Web site at www.salisbury.edu of call 410-543-6030.