LINCOLN – TeamMates Mentoring energized chapters for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year during the July 8th-9th Annual Conference hosted at Nebraska Innovation Campus.
The two-day Heart of Mentoring conference was attended by 270 program coordinators, board members, and building coordinators from the 189 TeamMates chapters across six states. Attendees dove into the core of mentoring and collaborated in multiple breakout sessions.
The event featured keynote speakers Jerry Olszewski, Augustana University Head Football Coach, and Charlie Colón, owner of Chick-fil-A SouthPointe Pavilions.
“This year’s conference theme, The Heart of Mentoring, reminds us that every meaningful mentoring relationship begins with a caring adult who is committed to a student’s success,” said Interim CEO Vicky Howick. “Bringing our chapter leaders together to share ideas, celebrate achievements, and learn from one another strengthens our collective mission of inspiring students to reach their full potential. We’re excited to carry that energy into the 2026–2027 school year.”
Nine chapters were also honored during the conference as the 2025-2026 Regional Winners:
Blair, NE; Eastern Metro Regional Winner
Callaway, NE; North Central Regional Winner
Clay County, KS; Tri-State Regional Winner
Gothenburg, NE; Southern Regional Winner
Harlan Community Schools, IA; Iowa Regional Winner
Norris, NE; Southeast Regional Winner
Randolph, NE; Northeast Regional Winner
Rapid City, SD; South Dakota/Wyoming Regional Winner
Sutherland, NE; Western Regional Winner
About TeamMates Mentoring
TeamMates Mentoring is a nonprofit organization founded by Dr. Tom and Nancy Osborne in 1991 with a mission to positively impact the world by inspiring students to reach their full potential through mentoring. TeamMates is the largest school-based mentoring program in the nation that has served more than 51,000 students since its inception and proudly serves 10,000 students in 189 chapters across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, and Wyoming. For more information about the TeamMates Mentoring program, please click here.