By Marisa Dawson, Photo Courtesy of Bennington TeamMates
The TeamMates of Bennington mentoring program has reached a major milestone, achieving its goal of 100 active mentor-mentee matches, an accomplishment that reflects years of rebuilding, community support, and a renewed vision for student connection. They reached this milestone with their 100th match, recently connecting Hayley and Maddie. Matched based on shared interests like reading, music, food and the outdoors, the pair are both described as outgoing, energetic, curious and compassionate. They’re already looking forward to spending time together doing crafts, activities and, of course, having fun.
For Program Coordinator Megan Detjens, the achievement represents far more than a number. “Reaching our goal of 100 Mentoring Matches is HUGE for us,” Detjens said. “We know that each match had dedicated time, energy and love to their mentoring relationship.”
The milestone is especially meaningful given the program’s recent history. Following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of matches dropped significantly. The chapter ended the 2020 school year with 89 matches but began the following year with just 64.
“I was new in my role and my number one goal was to sustain what matches we had,” Detjens said. “My second goal was to redefine and rebuild what school-based mentoring looked like here in Bennington.”
That rebuilding effort centered on visibility, outreach, and reshaping perceptions of mentoring. Detjens emphasized that the program worked to ensure students, families, and the broader community understood that mentoring is for everyone, not just those facing challenges.
“People often think that to need a Mentor, something must be ‘wrong’… and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” she said. “We know that behind every person’s success is a Mentor. Someone who cared enough to show up, believe in them and help them reach their full potential.”
The organization also leaned heavily on community partnerships to grow. Recruitment efforts by current mentors, referrals from Bennington Public Schools staff, and support from local donors all contributed to reaching the triple-digit goal, one that was formally set during a 2024 strategic plan.
“Because our TeamMates of Bennington Board is so passionate, motivated and hardworking, we knew we could elevate our impact into the triple digits,” Detjens said.
While mentors play a vital role, Detjens noted that the impact of the program goes both ways. “Often people think that the Mentors are the ones who swoop in, make this big impact and return to daily life… but really Mentees do this for us as adults too,” she said. “They show us hope and promise for a brighter future. They help US become a better version of ourselves and that’s the often unsung impact of TeamMates Mentoring program.”
With the milestone reached, the organization is taking a moment to celebrate, but its mission continues. A key focus moving forward will be retaining mentor-mentee matches as students grow older and their schedules become more demanding.
“Sustaining matches through middle school and into high school can be hard,” Detjens said. “Students become busier, more involved and even sometimes feel that they’ve outgrown TeamMates.”
At the same time, the program is preparing to celebrate another success: eight Bennington High School mentees are set to graduate this year, marking a transition that also opens the door for new students to join. “We want to make sure no matter what path they choose for themselves, they always have someone in their corner,” Detjens said.
Despite reaching 100 matches, the need for mentors remains ongoing. The program continues to accept new mentee nominations and is intentional about pairing students with the right mentor. “We always have a need for more mentors!” Detjens said.
With April recognized as National Volunteer Month, Detjens said, “We really want people to feel honored when we ask them to join us in our mission. It truly means that we see their gifts and want to give them space to share them with others.” She emphasized how much mentors in the program love what they do and encourage others to join in the mission, adding, “We take so much pride in being able to show up for others in this way.”
For those who have considered volunteering but haven’t yet taken the leap, Detjens offers a simple invitation: “Meet us for coffee! We want to learn about YOU! We know everyone has a gift and we love helping people share it with others.”
As TeamMates of Bennington celebrates this milestone, the organization hopes its growth will continue to strengthen connections, ensuring more students have consistent support, encouragement, and someone in their corner for years to come.
