Weiser teens recognized for hours devoted to afterschool program

Two Weiser High School students were publicly recognized for the many hours they have volunteered as mentors in the Weiser Police Department’s afterschool program.
 Program coordinator Steve Fenske introduced Giselle Coronado and John Mandujano during a recent meeting of the Weiser City Council and presented each with $200 and a certificate. One check for $100 came from the city and one check for $100 came from Arrow Heart Adventure Camps.
 Fenske reviewed the accomplishments of both students and their contributions to the afterschool program. He and former police chief Greg Moon started the mentor scholarship award in 2012.
 “These mentors not only assist me in organizing events, but they provide a leadership quality that the kids in the program can look up to and aspire to become someday,” Fenske said.
 Coronado has been a mentor in the afterschool program since 2015. In that time she has accumulated 1,300 hours as a mentor, both during the school years and in the summers.
 She is an honor student at Weiser High School and also is the youngest member of the Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps board of directors. She is on track to graduate this year with a 4.0 GPA.
 Mandujano has been a mentor in the afterschool program since 2016. He signed up for the program at age 15 and has logged 1,500 hours with the program, both during the summers and during the school year.
 “Like Gigi, John came up through the program as one of my quiet unspoken young men, yet always eager to help,” Fenske said.
 Mandujano ran the robotics class at the afterschool program during the summer of 2018. He also assisted Fenske with his knowledge of X-box and other games. He will graduate this year from WHS and plans to enter the military to advance his technical skills even further.
 Weiser Mayor Randy Hibberd thanked the two teens for their contributions to the afterschool program and said he hopes their volunteer spirit will stay with them throughout their lives.
 During the school year, there are 25 or so kids that regularly attend the afterschool program at the “greenhouse” in Memorial Park. In the summer, when school is not in session, that number can go up to 55-60 kids.
 Mentors are tasked with the job of helping kids at the afterschool program with their homework studies, interacting with them on games, both indoor and outdoor sports, and become a positive role model for the kids. The program allows teens who would otherwise age out of the afterschool program the opportunity to come back as volunteer mentors to the younger kids.
 The afterschool program started 19 years ago in 2001 with drug prevention and education as its major goal. The program works with kids from 7 to 14 years old. The program allows kids the opportunity to interact with other youth in a safe environment.
 Money to support the after school program comes from the city of Weiser, miscellaneous fundraising efforts, as well as, local community and business support.  
 It was also announced that Fenske is retiring from his position as coordinator of the afterschool program at the end of February after five years. A former police officer and school resource officer, he has overseen the program since 2005. In addition to running the afterschool program, Fenske is also the CEO of Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps for local youth.    
 Police chief Carl Smith thanked Fenske for the years he has put in at the afterschool program as the coordinator. He noted that Fenske retired from the afterschool program once and came back for a second stint.