Cougan Hobbs shows off the food he helped collect for the Graham Area Crisis Center. As a student intern at Oak Street Baptist, Hobbs spearheaded the project. (Courtesy photo)
Student intern fights to help those in need
(Posted 11/6/2009 02:00 pm)
Rebel. While that description may come to mind for the teenage years, it definately describes high school senior Cougan Hobbs.
However, Hobbs’s rebellion is not against authority but against low expectations for teenagers. Hobbs is a part of a new program at Graham High School that allows him to make a difference in the community. He is enrolled in the Technology Internship Program. An elective offered to juniors and seniors, TIP coordinates relationships between students and business professionals in Graham. These mentor relationships, by design, give students the opportunity to obtain work experience in their career interest fields.
While many people believe the teenage years are a “hands off” time, Graham High School staff including but not limited to CeCe Sallee, Xan Holub and Nancy Dunlap are making a deliberate “hands on” approach to students. Through the program, Hobbs is a student intern at Oak Street Baptist Church in the student ministry. In addition, Michael Meares interns with the worship ministry.
When asked about his experience this year with the program, Hobbs said it has been amazing.
“For the past year, I have felt the call to full-time ministry. I am not sure of the specifics of that but am determined to find out,” he said. “My high school counselor told me about the internship program. It has been a great benefit to me because I get hands-on experience and a chance to see if this is an option for me as a career. Picking a college and a major is a hard choice. This program can give you a jump start in finding both.“
Hobbs is under the supervision of youth minister Shannon May. While May has given Hobbs a challenge and responsibility, she considers it a calculated risk.
“I believe in young people and that they are the most dependable stock I can invest in,” she said. “So much so, I have dedicated my life to it.”
Hobbs has designed and produced a T-shirt for the year and most recently, organized an event for junior high students.
“This is one example of Hobbs giving back to younger students and the community of Graham,” May said. “That’s what you hope on any investment... a sizeable return. Though the event was a great success, Hobbs has learned first hand that youth ministry is not just sitting at Sonic during ‘Happy Hour.’”
Hobbs led the students in a ‘trick or treating’ for canned goods and spare change for the Graham Area Crisis Center. Five teams of students went in all directions with adult volunteers to bring together over 300 food items and over $225 for the Crisis Center.”
To reiterate the investment analogy, Don Oldfield, the Graham Area Crisis Center director, met weekly with Hobbs and a few peers last year over breakfast to invest in their lives — not imagining that the return on his investment would benefit Oldfield so directly.
“In our student ministry, our volunteers get the title ‘Professional Role Model.’ I encourage the parents and adults in Graham to get involved in the lives of young people,” May said. “Don Oldfield has no teens at home but just asked me last year if there were some students he could invest in. Young people are the recession-proof investment, and in Graham we have so many opportunities to get involved. You can invest your time through a local student ministry, the high school, Virginia’s House mentor program, the Rock and numerous other venues. “
For information about the TIP program and how to be a part, contact CeCe Sallee at Graham High School.
