Since 2003, the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in the Waterloo School District has matched hundreds of students together in positive ways.

Though it started by matching just 25 high school students with elementary students for the school mentoring program, it has grown significantly to include more than 150 students total this year.

During the school year, high school students meet once a week on site with elementary and middle school students at their schools. During the summer, high schoolers send their “littles” letters and let them know they’re looking forward to seeing them in the fall.

Monday afternoon, everyone involved in the program met out at the Rogers Elementary pavilion for an end-of-the-year party that included ice cream and outdoor activities.

Barb Cempura, president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois, stopped by to witness the interactions and the success of this year’s program.

“The cooperation of the schools, Waterloo in particular, is the reason why this program is so successful,” Cempura said. “We can only be in schools when the staff welcomes us, and they make arrangements so this works.”

She said a program like this doesn’t work everywhere since time has to be arranged and set aside, but Waterloo has been very successful.

“I’ve just been so impressed with the partnership and cooperation these Waterloo schools have,” she said.

Tina Charron, Big Brothers Big Sisters coordinator for both Waterloo and Valmeyer, said the feedback she gets from the participants is excellent.

“They absolutely love it,” Charron said.

Cempura said that according to outcome evaluations, more than 85 percent of students in Monroe County matched with a mentor showed improvement in educational success and avoidance of risky behaviors.

For more information on the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, visit online at www.bbbsil.org or call 618-398-3162.