South students celebrate being Linked

By Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — Megan Dillman’s first 2-1/2 months as a freshman at Terre Haute South Vigo High School have been “pretty awesome,” thanks in no small part to her Link Crew leaders.

Link Crew leaders are juniors and seniors who serve as mentors to small groups of freshmen.

“They put notes on our lockers for different events. If you can’t find a class, they’ll help you. If you have problems, you can go to them,” Dillman said.

Her Link Crew leaders, Haylee Salyer and Ashley Hilton, have helped make her transition to high school a good one.

On Thursday, South Link Crew leaders and their freshman groups had an opportunity to socialize outside of school. Four buses transported 100 freshmen, 40 student leaders and several adult staff to the Terre Haute Bowling Center, where students bowled and ate pizza. The event was funded through a grant.

Afterward, they returned to school and had the opportunity to watch the student musical “Oklahoma.”

The Bowling Center is a new social event for the Link Crew program, and judging from the attendance, it appears to be a popular one, organizers say.

Salyer, a junior and Dillman’s Link Crew leader, said the social was an opportunity to interact with her freshmen “and see how they are and see how things are going,” she said.

Salyer can relate to what the freshmen are going through. When she was a ninth-grader, “It was tough. I didn’t know anybody and it was really scary.” She wanted to be a Link Crew leader so other freshmen could have an easier transition than she did.

The Link leader remains with the same group of freshmen throughout the school year and is someone the freshmen can turn to if they have any questions or problems.

This year, the program is trying to do an even better job of making sure the upperclassmen stay in contact with the freshmen throughout the year, said Annette Miles, the South building coordinator for the GEMS Smaller Learning Communities grant program.

Adult coordinators are meeting more often with student leaders, who in turn are having more contacts with their freshmen, Miles said.

The groups first met during orientation in August, and in September there was a Homecoming tailgate party that included “class Olympic games.”

Freshman Sierra Cornelous was among those who decided to take advantage of the free pizza and bowling Thursday. “All my friends were coming and I wanted to have some fun,” she said.

She believes having events like that for freshmen and their students leaders is a good idea. “I think it’s great so we all can bond and come closer together and be a stronger school,” Cornelous said.

Link Crew leader Marita Hughes said she hopes the freshmen “have a really good time and hopefully maybe even find some new friends.”

The Link Crew program has been in place for several years. Thursday’s bowling event was yet another opportunity for the freshmen to get advice, ask questions “and share time with older kids who know what they are going through,” said Marquis Songer, a teacher and the lead Link Crew coordinator at South.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.