LEEP students welcomed to Laughlin

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Angela Martin
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Thirty students from Calderon, Lamar and Ruben Chavira Elementary Schools in Del Rio, Texas, were welcomed to Laughlin as part of the Laughlin Education and Enrichment Program.

As part of the LEEP program, each student was paired with a mentor from Laughlin during the spring semester. The mentor encouraged academic achievement and worked on building the student's self confidence.

"The LEEP program is a really big benefit to the students," said Debra Luna, a teacher at Ruben Chavira Elementary School. "The mentors help with more than just academics. The students love having the extra guest come visit and can you see their self esteem sky rocket when their mentor visits."

Since the program began in January 2009, teachers have been nominating students to be paired with a Laughlin mentor in hopes of building the student's self confidence.

"It's great to see our kids who do not always have a support system at home get the support from base people," said Sharon Clapper, teacher at Ruben Chavira Elementary School. "The kids really bloom in the program. They are completely different at school on their own than when they are with their mentors."

The teachers explained that many of the nominated students struggle with speaking English, have multiple siblings competing for their parents' attention or are separated from family members living in Mexico.

"I think when I was a kid, I needed a mentor, so it made me feel good to know that I was helping someone else and making someone else feel like what I thought I needed," said Staff Sgt. Crystal Plummer, 47th Communications Squadron, who participated as a LEEP mentor.

According to Capt. Scott Alexander, 85th Flying Training Squadron, he saw a complete transformation with his student, who was very quiet but experienced extreme outbursts. By the end of the program, the student comfortably talked with other people and had his outbursts under control.

"It's all been a phenomenal experience," said Alexander. "We always have feedback from the teachers saying how much these kids are actually growing through the positive influence."

To celebrate their personal victories, the students were rewarded with a trip to Laughlin. The children were able to view static displays on the flight line, visit with fire department, view a security forces military working dog demonstration and fly a T-6 Texan II simulator with their mentors. Finally, the students enjoyed pizza and a round of bowling with their mentors at Cactus Lanes.