Tricia Howell, C4K’s Recruitment & Retention Coordinator, has supported C4K mentor pairs for six years. Last week, she was named a finalist in MENTOR Virginia & VPOST’s Mentor Champion of the Year award. Tricia was recognized for her extraordinary commitment to the mentoring field and to the youth and mentors with whom she works. Tricia shows an eagerness and capacity to learn and stay current on trends in youth development and mentoring. Tricia willingly shares what she has learned in the mentoring field and has done so by presenting at state, national, and international conferences. Almost all of Tricia’s presentations have included youth–sending out the message to C4K youth and those attending her talks–that the youth presenters belong, are valued, and that their contributions matter. Tricia exemplifies the compassion and commitment to ensuring that every young person has opportunities. Having recruited many C4K alum as mentors, Tricia inspires others to give back.
We asked a C4K alum what is special about Tricia, and he immediately replied, “That’s easy. She always had faith in me. She has gotten me through some tough times in life. She never gives up on me. She is a wonderful person. She is willing to accept anyone. She is optimistic and open-minded. She tries to understand everybody. She teaches me to never limit myself.”
We are grateful to have someone as passionate about mentoring and young people as Tricia at the Clubhouse. Congratulations, Tricia! You are our champion every day!