HOISINGTON — With continuing efforts to improve, Hoisington High School seniors have begun a mentoring program for freshman to assist with the transition to high school.

Spearheaded by Kade Cook and Jordan Satterlee with assistance from Savannah Rose, the freshmen have met with the seniors once already this year.

The idea was suggested by the senior class when they were juniors as a way to positively impact the school.

The seniors have decided to add this program because "last year, our freshman didn’t get involved in school," said Cook. Every freshmen is assigned a mentor.

Seniors were given the option whether they wanted to participate, and only five seniors did not sign up to be a mentor.

Cook and Satterlee came up with a survey approved by administration that they gave both to the freshmen and seniors. The freshmen were then assigned a mentor based upon common interests such as sports or hobbies.

The two will also select activities for the groups.

"We’re trying to get more students involved," said Cook. The idea is also to provide support to freshman in this new experience.

The program is a hit with the students. "The sophomores and juniors have wished they had something like this last year," said Principal Meg Wilson.

The seniors can still remember what it was like to them when they were freshman. "It’s (HHS) such a big building, I didn’t know where to go to (for classes), said Cook. The mentoring program will provide the freshmen with someone to ask for help.

Cook is actively involved in school and participates in sports and art. He will create an updated Cardinal for the front entrance of HHS. It will be a clay mosaic art piece. He is also making plans to design murals for the school that integrate core values chosen by the students.

Great Bend High School has a similar program in place, and Hoisington has received ideas and help from them. HHS plans to continue the program next year.