Mentor and Mentee now both work at Facilities and Services (thanks to their mentor’s help) and are both going to mentor new students at Booker T. Washington.
Chris Cook, an Electrician at U of I Facilities and Services began mentoring Anthony Howell in 2014, when Anthony was a 4 th grade student at Booker T. Washington School in Champaign. Chris met with Anthony weekly until he graduated from Central High School in May of 2023. During his junior year, Anthony (Tone, as he is now called) expressed interest in the trades, particularly in carpentry. Chris talked to him about a trade career and learned more about the Construction Trades Programs at Parkland. Tone enrolled in the Construction Trades program in 2023, received a Construction Certificate in 2024, and was hired by the Facilities and Services Carpentry Department in 2024. Chris made such a difference to Tone that Tone wanted to give back to another student and is signed up to become a mentor at Booker T. Washington this fall. Chris is going to mentor a new student along with Tone!
Tone and Chris will both be attending new mentor training on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Champaign Mellon Building Board Room, 703 S. New, Champaign If you would like to interview them at this training between 6:25 – 6:40 – Please contact Chief Communications Officer Stacey Moore (moorest@u4sd.org) and Lauren Smith (smithla@u4sd.org)
If you would like to speak to Chris before the training his email is kccook6@gmail.com and he could set up an interview with both he and Tone at U of I Facilities and Services, 1501 S. Oak St, Champaign.