Youth program honors 10-year pairing

The Big Brothers/Big Sisters chapter of Monroe County celebrated its 27th year of serving the community with Sunday's opening of "Think Big Week", which honored two participants for outstanding achievements in the program.\nLaTasha Lewis, a freshman and a little sister in the program, and Ruth Eberle, her big sister, received special recognition at the dinner, which was attended by the administrative staff of the chapter as well as matched pairs of big and little sisters and brothers in the community. \nIris Kiesling, county commissioner and guest speaker at the event, honored the pair for their efforts to maintain a match for 10 years. Considering that the average matching lasts roughly three years, their relationship is one the members of Big Brothers/Big Sisters find especially inspiring. \nKiesling congratulated the pair on the strength of their relationship and reinforced the importance of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in the community. \n"Ruth helped Tasha flower, be successful and become a student at Indiana University," she said. \nRuth and Tasha's match began in 1990 when Tasha was 7 years old. Her mother enrolled her in the program and she was given Ruth as a big sister within the year. She and Ruth found common ground in humor and athletics; their activities together included playing basketball, hitting balls at batting cages and just talking away an afternoon. They also traveled together, attending the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta and celebrating Christmas in New Jersey with Ruth's family. \nTasha said she greatly enjoys her relationship with her big sister. \n"I think this is a great program for little kids with single parents because they get to do a lot of stuff they normally wouldn't," she said. \nRuth said she enjoys spending leisure time with Tasha as well, but she also focuses on the importance of education. One of Ruth and Tasha's early accomplishments was Tasha learning how to read. After Ruth tutored Tasha for one month, she was capable of reading proficiently at her second grade level. \nDuring the years, they changed their activities, but Ruth always found time to tutor Tasha and stress the importance of academics in her life. The long hours of studying eventually allowed Tasha to graduate early from high school and attend IU, where she studies psychology. Ruth is also in the psychology building, teaching a course entitled the mathematical and logical foundations of cognitive science and is the director of technology in the cognitive science department. \n"I can say with great confidence that the volunteer gets as much out of the program as the child does," Ruth said. "Watching Tasha grow up has taught me a lot about parenting." \nStrong parenting skills are important to Ruth, she said, since she is raising two foster daughters, ages 10 and 12, and spends time with a second little sister. She is also mentoring a student at Grandview School through the Friends Learn With Mentoring Program. She keeps the activities of each girl separate so she can devote her time equally and focus on the unique qualities of each person. \nTasha is also considering volunteering when she becomes 18 and is old enough to enter the program as a big sister. \nFor more information on mentoring or becoming a big brother or big sister call the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters office of Monroe County at 334-2828. There will also be a call-out meeting at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Ballantine Hall 007.