Meet Team Butzel

Ten students from Butzel Elementary/Middle School in Detroit will participate in the Mentoring: A Running Start program as a part of their KidMILES program. Kid MILES, Mentoring Interest in Living and Eating Smart, was developed by Dr. Scott Eathorne, MD, St. John Health, Providence Athletic Medicine. KidMILES is an after-school 10-week physical fitness program for fourth- through eighth-grade students at Butzel Elementary/Middle School. The program coordinator is Quanda Clay, Professional Counselor, for the St. John Health, Napolean B. Jordan School Based Health Center. The goal of the program is Living and Eating Smart by getting and keeping kids physically active and eating healthier foods. Students learn about the importance of nutrition and how to live healthier lives. They also participate in some form of fun physical activity weekly, such as basketball, soccer, and running obstacle courses, etc. The students who successfully complete the program participate in the Detroit Free Press Marathon 5K Fun Run and Fitness Walk, and are rewarded with the finishers medal and gifts such as running shoes, t-shirts, gift certificates, and school supplies. There is also a party and award ceremony held in their honor.

The program has successfully run since April 2003, and Butzel Students have participated in five Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon 5K Fun Run and Fitness Walks. The program has several volunteers and mentors from many different professions including the Wayne State University Medical Student organization, Young Doctors of Detroit. The KidMILES program has also been very fortunate to have local professional athletes and celebrities come out to speak and play sports with the students.

The Butzel team members include:

Mentees Rickea Brannon, Takia Crocheron, Kayla Evans, Daesuan Felton, Delvin Felton, Charnetta Irving, Charnelle Irving, Tanisha Renfroe, Dominique Sanders, and Larry Smith

Mentors Carla Bryant, Quanda Clay, Kenneth Dorsette, Dustin Lucarelli, Brian Jackson, Devon Moore, Alicia Shelby, Brittany Thomas, Heather Thompson, and Debra Wilkerson

Meet Team Hoogerwerf/Castle

Lisa Hoogerwerf, mentor from Holland, and Desiree Castle, mentee from Holland

Lisa is a graduate of Hope College and worked as a correctional nurse before becoming an AmeriCorps volunteer. She currently works with Heights of Hope in community development. She volunteers for neighborhood events, tutoring programs and Blacktop, her church’s summer day camp. Lisa is also involved with Miles for Mentoring. She enjoys photography, graphic design, jewelry making, scrapbooking and hanging out with kids in her neighborhood. Lisa and Desiree have known each other for more than a year, but were only recently matched. They both love art and enjoy trips to Paint-a-Pot. They also practice photography, watch movies, swim, and chat. Desiree attends Holland High School and is involved in volleyball, track and softball. She also volunteers with Lisa at Blacktop. Desiree has a special interest in animals (especially dogs), the beach and art. Desiree and Lisa share a favorite memory of ice skating together. Lisa says “Desiree is incredibly smart, talented and fun. She is a very strong young woman with so much potential.” Lisa looks forward to getting in shape with Desiree by her side so they can encourage each other to be healthy. Desiree thinks Lisa has an awesome personality and is glad to have the opportunity to spend more time with her.

Meet Team Fisher/Baker

Matika Fisher, mentor from Flint, and Tameria Baker, mentee from Flint

Matika is a graduate of the University of Michigan Flint where she studied criminal justice. She has been a police officer for 15 years, a DARE instructor for eight years, and currently works for the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Matika became an advocate for physical activity in her community by initiating a Police Athletic League, and the Flint Heat Track Club which she coaches with her husband. She is also the number one fan for her two sons who are active in football, basketball and track. Matika recently met Tameria through the Flint Heat Track Club. Tameria attends Pierce School in Flint and is involved in basketball and swimming. She enjoys shopping, traveling and running. Together Tameria and Matika go shopping, run and participate in community events. Matika appreciates having “girl time” with Tameria, as she is outnumbered at home. Matika looks forward to getting back into shape and motivating others to do the same.

Meet Team Milne/Echols

Denise Milne, mentor from Farmington, and twins Christian and Christopher Echols from Detroit

Denise has been a PE swim teacher in Detroit Public Schools for 30 years. She is also involved in USTA tennis and singing groups at church. She enjoys reading the Bible, playing tennis, and getting together with high school friends. Denise has worked with Christian and Christopher for a few months. Christian and Christopher are twins, with Christian being the oldest by 10 minutes. They attend Hutchins McMichael School and are involved in basketball and chess club. The brothers enjoy watching and playing sports. With Denise, they eat healthy lunches, play tennis and go running. Denise spends time making food and stretching with Christian and Christopher and was happy when they said “stretching feels good,” and that the salad they ate was “better than honey buns.” She admires their commitment to training and eagerness to learn. They both enjoy their Wednesday practice runs and look forward to meeting new people at the 5K.

Meet Team VanWyngarden/Jordan

Jonathan VanWyngarden, mentor from Holland, and Andy Jordan, mentee from Holland

Jon works for Americorps through the Faith In Youth Partnership, and is also studying to become an English teacher. He is involved in church programming, Kids Hope USA, after-school tutoring and middle school youth group. Jon enjoys playing the guitar, reading good books, writing and gardening. Jon and Andy have been matched for a year and a half. Together they enjoy biking, getting ice cream, hiking, goofing around and simply hanging out. Andy is in eighth grade at West Middle School and is involved in Blacktop recreation at Calvary Reformed Church. He likes basketball, baseball and running, especially with Jon. One of Andy’s favorite memories with Jon is when they cooked a homemade pizza with his family. Jon remembers one of the first nights they hung out when they walked on the beach and pier. He appreciates Andy’s carefree spirit, and love of life. Jon also admires that Andy loves people for who they are and is very creative and fun. They look forward to accomplishing the goal of running the 5K together.

Meet Team Kehoe/Goff

Vicki Kehoe, mentor from Gobles, and Konor Goff, mentee from Gobles

Vicki has been a health club manager since 1979 and is a personal trainer with an exercise science degree. She volunteers at the local SPCA and enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, biking, camping and gardening. Vicki and Konor have been matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters for two-and-a-half years. Konor is 11 years old and attends Gobles Middle School. He is interested in hockey and soccer and enjoys riding his bike and scooter. Konor and Vicki bike, skateboard, hike and play games together. Some of their favorite memories include visiting Vicki’s house, and mountain biking on the El Sabo Trail. Vicki admires Konor’s sense of humor and great personality. They both look forward to spending more time together.

Meet Team Karpinsky/Michalski/Zabrowski

Bo Karpinsky, mentor from Sterling Heights and Beth Michalski and Elizabeth Zabrowski, mentees from Hamtramck

Bo is a PE teacher in Hamtramck and has been teaching for 25 years. He coaches football and volleyball, and is president of the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers. Bo has a love for the outdoors especially fishing, hunting, camping, canoeing and walking. He is also involved with the Immaculate Conception Church in Hamtramck. Bo is Beth’s PE teacher at Kosciuszko Middle School and has coached her in volleyball. Beth will be in eighth grade this fall. She is involved in sports at school and is looking forward to the opportunity to train for the 5K and be active this summer. Bo says that Beth is very determined and always has a smile. Elizabeth is also a coached by Bo in volleyball at Kosciuszko and is a friend of Beth’s. Bo says that she was added to their team because she is very competitive and has “grit.” Bo strongly believes that physical fitness should be a priority in schools because it has been found that exercise directly affects learning.

Meet Team VanPamel/Brugnone

Sarah VanPamel, mentor from Clinton Township, and Kianna Brugnone, mentee from Clinton Township

Sarah currently attends the University of Detroit Mercy and is a Boys & Girls Club volunteer. She has 13 years of experience as a dancer, and teaches dance to young children. Sarah is also a fan of her hometown sports teams, and she enjoys water sports and other outdoor activities. Sarah and Kianna were matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Kianna attends Tenniswood School and has an interest in swimming, basketball and food. Some of the activities they do together are eat lunch, play putt-putt golf and attend Big Brothers Big Sisters events. They also stay in touch by talking on the phone and e-mailing. Kianna and Sarah share a favorite memory of going out to dinner together at the Fondue Room. Sarah appreciates Kianna’s “constant upbeat personality and beautiful smile.” They look forward to achieving a healthy goal together.

Meet Team Howard/Wysinger

John Howard, mentor from Benton Harbor, and Corey Wysinger, mentee from Benton Harbor

John works with youth at the Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor. He loves playing sports, camping and biking. John has been matched with Corey for one year and they spend time together at the Club. They also are involved in volunteer programs throughout their community. Corey is 12 years old and attends the Lighthouse Education Center. At the Boys & Girls Club he is a member of the Torch Club and Peer Council programs. Corey enjoys wrestling, football, and playing chess and baseball with John. He has a fun memory of cleaning up a cemetery with John. John’s favorite memory is when Corey got his first base hit in a baseball game. Corey is excited to visit Detroit and go sight-seeing. John admires Corey’s courage to be different and Corey appreciates John’s wisdom.

Meet Team Dudycha/Lucas

Michelle L. Dudycha, mentor from Paw Paw, and Mary Lucas, mentee from Mattawan

Michelle, a graduate of Western Michigan University, is a middle school teacher and a newlywed. She is involved with a women’s ministry program through her church and recently completed her first mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Michelle is also a fall-season cheerleading coach. She enjoys playing rugby, running, biking, camping, cooking and traveling. Michelle and Mary have been matched for more than a year, and they are always looking for a new adventure. They usually enjoy riding bikes, antiquing, playing tennis and swimming. Mary is in seventh grade at St. Monica Catholic Church. She is one of seven children in her family and loves to have fun. Mary is also artistic both in her creative and physical outlets which include drawing, playing soccer and tennis, and running. Mary’s favorite memory with Michelle is when they spent the day with the animals at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek. Michelle enjoyed their time together riding bikes on the Kal-Haven Trail when they rode for 12 miles. Mary is excited for the 5K race, and Michelle looks forward to seeing Mary in her element of running. She also admires Mary’s sense of self, maturity and sense of humor. Mary appreciates that Michelle teaches her something new every time they get together and hopes to be as intelligent as her.

Meet Team Midgley/Hall

Becky Midgley, mentor from Holland, and Govonna Hall, mentee from Holland

Becky is currently a college student and an AmeriCorps member with the Ottawa County Mentoring Collaborative. She is a tutor and is involved with her church, Searchlight Ministries. She likes to read, do art projects, star-gaze and go on adventures. Becky and Govonna met at the Miles for Mentoring 5K and have been in a tutoring program together for a year. Their favorite memory is the first time they ran together. Govonna is 13 years old and in eighth grade at West Middle School. She volunteers at her church and enjoys double dutch, running, hanging out with friends, and hopes to try out for basketball in the fall. Govonna is looking forward to her first trip to Detroit for the 5K race. She admires Becky’s “bubbly personality” and her willingness to help others. Becky thinks Govonna has a quiet, strong presence and many other kids look up to her. They are looking forward to strengthening their relationship and conquering a challenge.

Meet Team Foster/McClurg

Sarah Foster, mentor from Portage, and Kendra McClurg, mentee from Kalamazoo

Sarah is a graduate of Western Michigan University where she studied human resources. She is now a Logistics Coordinator for Roadway Express Inc. Sarah enjoys camping, fishing, reading, traveling and volleyball. She also has a love for animals. Sarah and Kendra have been matched for one year through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Kendra will be in seventh grade at Maple Street School this fall and she likes to swim, read and listen to music. Together they like to visit the library and the zoo, take walks, talk, and go to country music concerts. Some of their favorite memories together include playing the game Hilarium and off-roading in a Jeep. Kendra appreciates that Sarah gets her to try new things and is looking forward to proving they can accomplish the 5K goal. Sarah admires Kendra’s drive and ability to make the best of every situation.

Meet Team Richard/Henderson

Edward Richard, mentor from Saginaw, and Lance Henderson, mentee from Saginaw

Edward works at the VA Medical Center in Saginaw and also volunteers at his church for outings. He loves to help people and enjoys good friends, going to the gym and relaxing. Edward believes in living life to the fullest by spending time with people he cares about. He has only been matched with Lance for a short time, but has been a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters for six years. Lance attends Kempton School and is involved in soccer, basketball and football. Together, Lance and Edward play sports, talk and go to movies. Lance has a love for sports and his favorite memory with Edward is going to a football game together. They look forward to working as a team and getting to know each other better.

Meet Team Christian/Jimenez

Bridget Christian, mentor from Grosse Pointe Farms and Erika Jimenez, mentee from Pontiac

Bridget is a contract employee with Generation with Promise, a program out of the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Office of the Surgeon General. She has a BA in communications from Saint Mary’s College and a master’s in social work from the University of Michigan. Bridget shares her life with her husband Chris and dog Kirby. She volunteers with Creekside Community Development Corporation, Earthworks Urban Farm, Greening of Detroit and CityScape Detroit. Bridget enjoys running, biking, softball, gardening, cooking, knitting and traveling. Bridget and Erika were recently paired together and look forward to being running partners. Erika will be a freshman at Pontiac Northern High School this fall where she plans to try out for the soccer team and possibly track and cross country. She currently plays on a travel soccer team. Erika enjoys spending time with her brothers and dog Luna. She also likes to bake, especially chocolate cake. Erika is excited to be able to run in Detroit with people cheering for her and Bridget.

Meet Team Kendrick/Carter

Dave Kendrick, mentor from Muskegon and David Carter, mentee from Muskegon Heights

Dave is the county Public Works Director and has a master's degree in agricultural engineering. In his community he is involved in the Lions Club, church children's programs and county diversity efforts. He is interested in wood working, running, volleyball, math and science projects, and puzzles. Dave and David have been matched for one year through Muskegon Heights Math Mentoring. David is entering ninth grade at Western Michigan Christian High School. He is involved with missionary trips, American Youth Basketball Tour and football. Together they attend church youth group, sports camps and take plant tours. They share a recent favorite memory of David's eighth-grade graduation. David says he admires Dave because he likes him for who he is. Dave admires the growth of David's personal faith and that he treats people with respect. They are looking forward to spending time together running at Hoffmaster State Park along Lake Michigan and eating pizza at Greek Tony's afterward on a weekly basis.

Meet Team Denson/Williams

Asia Denson, mentor from Detroit and Amber Williams, mentee from Detroit

Asia is a graduate student in construction engineering management and technology. She is a facilities engineer intern at Blue Cross Blue Shield, a percussion instructor at the Detroit Academy of Arts and Science High School, and is involved with Upward Bound. She enjoys sports, getting in shape and browsing the Internet. Her interests include real estate, renovations and anything related to technology or construction. Asia and Amber have been matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit since October 2007. Together they enjoy going to the movies and sporting events, skating and going out to dinner. Amber will be in ninth grade this fall at Southeastern High school. She enjoys doing hair and is interested in basketball and computers. Asia admires that Amber has set goals for herself. Amber says she wants to be as successful as Asia and attend college like she did. They look forward to becoming healthier as a team.

Meet Team Bilyeu/Gohl

Dan Bilyeu, mentor from Alpena, and Colin Gohl, mentee from Alpena

Dan is on Active Duty in the Michigan Air National Guard stationed at the Alpena CRTC where he works as a budget analyst. He will retire this August with more than 22 years of active service and 29 years of total military service. Dan has associate degrees in accounting, financial management and general studies. In addition to mentoring Colin, Dan is an adoptive father and licensed foster care provider. He enjoys running, working out, rock landscaping and volunteering. Dan and Colin have been matched for more than seven years and enjoy going to the movies, playing Frisbee and games, spending time in the woods scouting for deer, and going out to eat. Colin will be in eighth grade this fall with the goal of attending Princeton to study nuclear medicine after graduating high school. He is active in his church youth group, and God is an important part of his life. Colin is involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Alpena and enjoys hanging out with friends, traveling, skateboarding, playing X-box, creating graphic designs, sleeping and swimming. Colin also enjoys making “survivor” movies with Dan and going deer hunting. One of Dan’s favorite memories is when Colin nominated him for Big Brother of the Year by writing a letter of recommendation that touched Dan’s heart. Dan considers Colin as part of his family and says that Colin has a lot of potential. Colin thinks Dan is a great role model and says, “He spends time with me and does things I would do if I had a dad in my life.” Both Dan and Colin look forward to the challenge of training and encouraging each other to achieve this goal.

Meet Team Wilbrink/Haller

Gerard Wilbrink, mentor from Williamston and Devon Haller, mentee from Williamston

Gerard is a retired welder and fabricator, and is now developing a handyman business. Gerard is also an assistant track coach at Williamston Middle School and will work with the cross country team in the fall. He loves the outdoors including camping, bike riding and yard work. Gerard and Devon have been matched since December 2007 through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Devon will be in seventh grade at Williamston Middle School this fall. He enjoys playing video games, biking, swimming, running and working out. His favorite memory with Gerard is the first time they went to Lake Michigan. Devon and Gerard like to run, fish, swim, go to movies, camp, run on the sand dunes, and bike. Devon admires Gerard for encouraging him and for being funny. Gerard is looking forward to seeing Devon improve his confidence through training for the 5K as he gets stronger and faster. He appreciates Devon’s compassion for others and great sense of humor.