You know what I love about Austin? Great people who see a problem and start working on solving it.

This week, a great example of that Austin spirit came from Catherine Haslag, a chemistry professor at Riverland Community College. Catherine has been judging the elementary science fairs in Austin for several years as a volunteer. She noticed some students had a lot of potential but their projects had not advanced beyond the basics. After visiting with classroom teachers, she learned that there is a need for mentoring in this area. Students need an adult to help take a science fair project to the next level.

Catherine went to work. She worked with Austin Public Schools to find out more about the needs and procedures to work with students. This fall, she was ready to start recruiting mentors.

When Catherine brought the mentoring project to Hormel Foods Corp, she not only found some willing volunteers, she met Chad Sayles. Chad is an engineer at Hormel Foods Corp. and long-time board member of the United Way of Mower County. Chad helped Catherine make connections at the United Way and get funding for the program. (Chad is another great example of the Austin spirit.)

Now the Science Fair Mentoring has begun. Students in third and fourth grade at Sumner and Neveln can sign up for a mentor. So far, 90 students at Sumner are looking for mentors. Meetings between students and mentors are already scheduled for 16 days from November through March and will take place between 2:30 and 4 p.m. A mentor can check the scheduled mentoring dates and commit to one or more meetings with the students.

What do mentors do? Help students to develop their project, interpret results and create a presentation of the project. No special science knowledge or affinity is needed, just an interest in helping a child learn and grow.

Catherine has been working with community partners to find adult mentors including the Austin AAUW, Austin Aspires, Austin Human Rights Commission, Austin Public Library, Austin Utilities, Hormel Food Corp, the Hormel Institute, Mower Refreshed, Mayo Clinic Health System Albert Lea Austin, the Welcome Center, Riverland Community College and Vision 2020. Austin Public Schools and United Way of Mower County are contributing funds to the program.

Thank you to the mentors who have already signed up. Many more are needed! (Currently, each mentor works with five students and the program would like to lower that ratio.) Mentors are required to complete a background check at Austin Public Schools and are given a two-hour orientation through an online video. There is no cost to the students or mentors to participate.

To find out more, please contact Catherine at sciencefairmentormn@gmail.com. Thank you to Catherine, Chad and all the mentors for keeping the Austin spirit alive.