LEWISTON — The Child Health Center’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Program recently gave special awards to Bates College student leaders that have led a mentoring program at the college called “Cats and Cubs.”

The purpose of the mentoring program is to provide safe and healthy mentoring relationships between children and Bates College students. These one-to-one relationships help build friendships that can positively influence academic performance, attendance and attitudes toward school. The program meets on the college campus two to three times each month for the academic year.

At the end of year celebration dinner held at Bates College, Ron Hood, program director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, presented Mentoring Leadership Awards to four Bates College student leaders who have led the “Cats and Cubs” group for many years. They are Carlen Arima, Melanie Harkins, Steven Fukuda and Kelly Cox.

“These four students have successfully come together as a unit to positively serve the students of our community by providing them with confidence, competence and caring,” Hood said.

For more information about being a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer mentor, call 782-5437 or send an e-mail to ron.hood@childhealthcenter.org.