`Bigs' earn `Little' assists.

Byline: Jennifer Toland

COLUMN: COLLEGES

Clark University senior Sara Hagstrom walks through the gym doors at the Goddard School on Wednesday afternoons and is greeted like she's a rock star - or maybe more like Hannah Montana - by this preteen set.

Katira, a sixth-grader, bounds from the bleachers and races toward Hagstrom. Katira is bursting with excitement and eager to spend the next two hours with Hagstrom, reading, talking and playing.

Their time together is a highlight of Katira's week. The same goes for Hagstrom.

"Not only do you get to be a kid again, you get to help a kid," Hagstrom said. "There's no better feeling than that."

Hagstrom, co-captain of the Clark women's basketball team, is one of more than 400 student-athletes from Worcester colleges who volunteer in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass./Metrowest school- and site-based mentoring programs.

Team members from Clark (women's basketball, women's tennis), Assumption (men's basketball), Worcester Polytechnic Institute (men's and women's basketball, swimming, track, crew, softball) and Holy Cross (football, men's lacrosse, women's soccer, baseball and cheerleading) are making a difference in the lives of city youngsters and, as the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission states, enhancing the quality of life of children at risk.

"The reason we're in existence is to provide role models for kids," said Ben Ticho, the organization's executive director, "and what better role models are there than people who are not just athletes, but are college students? The kids might not aspire to college, but once they have a Big Brother or a Big Sister, college is something they might aspire to."

Research has shown that mentoring by Big Brothers and Big Sisters has a positive and lasting effect on their Little Brothers' and Little Sisters' confidence, grades and social skills.

Hagstrom and Katira, who were matched at the start of the school year, have their fun playing basketball and dodge ball together, but not before doing homework.

"She knows I love to read, so she wants to read," Hagstrom said. "She likes to read to me, and that helps her."

Eight years ago, members of the Holy Cross men's lacrosse team were the first volunteers in the BBBS' school-based mentor program at Canterbury Street School. Since then, the program has expanded to the Belmont Street Community School, Elm Park Community School, Flagg Street School, Goddard School and Seven Hills Charter School, as well as the Great Brook Valley Boys & Girls Club and the Plumley Village Boys & Girls Club.

"Bigs" typically spend 1-2 hours a week with their "Littles" at the school or site doing homework, playing games, and just talking, but their involvement usually extends beyond that.

"It's more than just going down to the schools," said Melanie Perreault, Big Brothers Big Sisters vice president of programs. "They have a bond."

"Littles" from the Elm Park Community School cheered and waved signs during a men's basketball game last week at Harrington Auditorium, then met up with their victorious Big Brothers from WPI after the game. It was a similar scene a few days later at a WPI women's game when Little Sisters from Elm Park Community wore T-shirts, made by WPI senior captain Caitlin Macko, with their Big Sisters' names and uniform numbers on the back.

"It's a wonderful thing," WPI coach Chris Bartley said. "The kids on the team have been unbelievable reaching out to the kids and we've seen a big difference being made with these young people."

Bartley, whose team has volunteered with BBBS for six years, and HC men's lacrosse coach Adam Pascal spearheaded the effort to get other local college teams involved, Perreault said, and she expects the program will continue to grow.

"It's an amazing experience," said Holy Cross senior football captain Daryl Brown, who for three years has been a Big Brother to 15-year-old Junior, a freshman at Burncoat High. "I see myself in Junior and I really want to help him. He has a lust for life and a competitive spirit. He mentors me as much as I mentor him."

Brown spends time with Junior during the week at the Great Brook Valley Boys & Girls Club. They also like to go bowling, and Junior, wearing a No. 30 jersey (Brown's uniform number), goes to a number of HC games. Brown also made it to some of Junior's junior varsity football games. Brown will graduate in May, but will maintain his relationship with Junior.

"This isn't just a college hobby to put on my resume," Brown said. "Junior truly is my little brother."

At the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass./Metrowest annual meeting two weeks ago, Brown and Holy Cross senior quarterback and captain Dominic Randolph were presented with the Dr. H. Martin Deranian Fellowship Award.

The award, named for a long-term Big Brother, community activist and supporter of the agency, is presented each year to an outstanding volunteer mentor who gives the gift of time to a child.

"Without Daryl and Dominic, we couldn't have provided such a solid program," Perreault said. "Over 75 kids at Great Brook Valley have had the benefit of consistent and positive attention from an adult role model thanks to their dedication, commitment and hard work. I rely on them for recruitment, planning activities and their great spirit."

Junior and Franky, Randolph's Little Brother, were there to see the pair receive the award. Franky, likewise, wears No. 9 (Randolph's number) for his flag football team.

"To be awarded for something that's already so rewarding was too good to be true," Brown said. "Spending time with these kids is something we all look forward to."