My name is Jessica Cantrell. I was born and raised on the Fort Peck Reservation and I am an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. My father was an enrolled member of the Fort Berthold reservation in Newtown, North Dakota and was Mandan/Sioux. My mother was enrolled in Fort Peck and was Assiniboine/Sioux. I am enrolled as an Assiniboine/Sioux. I am also Irish/Spanish. I graduated from Wolf Point High School; and attended schools at Dawson Community College; University of North Dakota; and Montana State University. I have a Master’s degree in Human Growth and Development.

I am the mother of three fine children, ages 23, 19, and 18 (two young men and the baby is a girl). I am the grandmother of one very precious 6-month old granddaughter. I was raised by my maternal grandmother, as my mom died when I was 11 and my dad didn’t have custody, but did keep in touch with me. My grandmother also helped raise my fourteen cousins.

I became a mentor because I had a teacher that took an interest in me as a young 1^st grader. She constantly encouraged me and made me feel important. I credit her willingness to “mentor” me, with my interest I continuing my education. I have a heart for youth and find mentoring rewarding and relaxing. I am so thankful that I can give back some of the blessings that other people have been to me that I have met throughout my life.

Mariah Kosta is a 21 year old native Montanan. She is currently working to finish her sophomore year at MSU- B, where she is studying for a degree in Secondary English Education (with a creative writing emphasis). She also hopes to get a major in Spanish Education, and is aspiring to eventually get a PhD and teach Creative Writing at a collegiate level.  Mariah is very goal oriented, and has dreamed of being a teacher since her first day of school; she also plans to be a writer someday. Mariah enjoys nature and being outdoors, cooking, writing, reading, singing, drama, and all things scholastic.

Mariah chose to be a mentor because she knows just how hard it is to go through high school, and the challenges one must face at this age.  She also had to overcome a great deal of adversity when she was in Jr. High and High school so Mariah feels she can effectively empathize with her mentees. Mariah also became a mentor to help other students overcome the same obstacles and hardships that she had to face as an adolescent. She believes very strongly that mentors can give students a great deal of direction

and confidence. By helping students to set and achieve goals, Mariah hopes to help them avoid destructive decisions and make healthy choices for their futures.

Wendy Fleming is a Montana native from Nashua, Montana. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Montana State University in 1995 and began working in human services. After five years working in the developmental disability field Wendy moved into the mental health field and currently works as a treatment manager for Youth Dynamics, a Montana-based mental health organization. She has been residing in Wolf Point for the last two years.

Wendy wanted to become a mentor because she knows how difficult it is for young girls to find role models and that girl’s with disabilities are especially in need of additional supports. Wendy is especially pleased with the student that she mentors at Poplar High School.

My name is Faye L. Hotomanie and I am 21 years young. I spent a small amount of my life living in Frazer with my parents and my big family. Then, sadly, my father died in a car accident when I was only 1. When I was 5 my mother remarried. I have a huge family and I believe that family is one of the most important things in life. Throughout my life I have had many mentors but only one still sticks out, my mother. Throughout my whole life she has always been there for me and helped me sort out things in my life. I could not have accomplished anything with out her. So that is how I got to where I am now, a mentor to other people who need someone to talk to, confide in, and just be there for them. So if you would like to thank me for doing what I do, please just thank my mother.

Jessica Bowman is in her junior year at MSU-B pursuing a double major in elementary education and special education.  She would like to work with students in life skills classes when she graduates.  For the past fourteen years she worked in group homes that served adults with disabilities.  She enjoyed the work and hopes to one day operate a company of her own.  She has mentored in many programs in Oregon and is looking forward to being a mentor in Montana!

My name is Prudence (P.J.) Hulman and I am from Worden, Montana. I am a senior at MSU-Billings pursing a double major of special and elementary education. I am also a Resident Assistant for the 3^rd year in Petro Hall. I love the mentor project because I am helping girls find their way; helping them find their voice. I had a hard time in high school and I want to help the girls get through it with fun and positive memories. I don’t want the girls to feel that they can not get to college because they have a disability or not doing well in school. I have made it and I know they can too! The equity project is a phenomenal project and I am proud to be apart of it.

My name is Karrie Erickson. I am not originally from Montana, however I have lived here for so many years of my life that I like to think I am. I recently graduated from Montana State University-Billings with a degree in Biology. I am working for the American Cancer Society as their Quality of Life Relationship Manager. I would like to further my education in a concentrated study but I have yet to determine what area I would like to pursue. I enjoy the outdoors, I started fly fishing about a year and a half ago. It has taught me patience and precision. I enjoy getting out and observing the natural habitat and it has become my number one stress-reliever. I was involved for a short time with the first mentor project. I hope that this program will aid and benefit the women we are mentoring.

Elisabeth Mills is a writer and a Billings business owner who has cerebral palsy. She learned to walk when she was about three years old. Thanks to horseback riding, leg braces, surgery and wheelchairs, Elisabeth has been seen zipping across the roads and byways of Montana in the never-ending search for the good people, great stories, and fine horses that have fueled her passion for community and family for more than twenty years. Mentoring, in a variety of forms, has shaped Elisabeth's life in several ways.

"If I had not learned of writing from my grandparents' letters and the many stories of craft and craftsmanship taught by my teachers, I would never have seen so much of the world through the broad strokes and unique details that writers develop--and I would not have seen my place within it. I want to give others a chance to look outside their margins and see past the horizon."

"If I had not seen the value of communication, thanks to Mom's insistence that I 'use words' when my Leo nature was far too riled to be anything but physical, and when "thank you notes" where the farthest thing from the tunnel vision of my toy-inspired and sugar-mired mind, I would never have spoken beyond my own thoughts and would never have considered that I could make a living and life out of talking on paper. Mentors taught me that I matter, and that this voice (and the pen that gives it shape and flesh) needs to be heard in whispers, shouting, and song. If I am lucky, I can teach that confident voice to others."

 Nancy Myers: Human Resource Director at STEP. Have worked at STEP for 18 years and have worked in the human service field for  27 years. I have a 19 year old daughter who now attends MSU in Bozeman and is studying to be a teacher. I am interested in being a mentor  because I have had physical challenges throughout my life that have made me who I am and have also inspired me to pursue a career in the human service field. I hope to be able to help a young lady discover some possible career interests, some that she may have been considering and some that we may discover together as we meet and learn about each other.

Isabelle Youngman, is from Poplar, Montana. She works for the Poplar Elementary School. Initially she was a paraprofessional then was promoted to Home School Coordinator. Isabelle reports that she really likes her current position and the additional money is okay too! As a Home School Coordinator Isabelle visits with families in their home to assist parents with the Individualized Education Plan paperwork, counseling, speech information and to check on attendance issues. Isabelle enjoys working with the parents and helps in any way she can to be a positive influence and help children get to school. Her adopted son is currently a fifth grader and she reports that he likes school and has no problem getting up in the morning. In fact, he enjoys helping one of the teachers so Isabelle and her son get to school at 7:30 every morning!

Mary was born in Billings and has spent most of her life here.  She has worked as a reporter, editor, private and corporate attorney, lobbyist, consultant and real estate developer.  For fun, she writes, beads, quilts and hangs out with her two horse buddies, Chubby Checkers and Summer Son.  "My parents always told me I could do anything I put my mind to, and it has given me an exciting life.  That belief also taught me that I can't let something like multiple sclerosis decide what I do with each day.  I have choices and must be active in dealing with my disability," Mary said.  Currently, she is looking at the possibility of a new career in teaching or tutoring, an interest which was inspired by the young women she mentors in the Equity project.