Earlier this week, the Lingle Senior Center was the site of intergenerational bonding, as students from Lingle-Fort Laramie High School shared their knowledge of smartphones and other technology with area senior residents.
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LINGLE – Earlier this week, the Lingle Senior Center was the site of intergenerational bonding, as students from Lingle-Fort Laramie High School shared their knowledge of smartphones and other technology with area senior residents.
Representatives from L-FL’s Student Council and Future Business Leaders of America offered approximately an hour of one-on-one tutoring after enjoying lunch with residents Monday and Tuesday. AARP Wyoming provided the noontime meal both days in support of the project.
Seniors Bailey Surratt, who is president of both FBLA and Student Council, and Kelly Peterson expressed optimism as they finished their lunch ahead of the inaugural event Monday.
“I think this tutoring program is important to build a connection with the elders in this community,” Peterson said. “They are very valuable members of the community, and we’re looking to provide that connection … offering that to them is really a benefit to us all.”
“I really feel like we have an important role to play in our community, no matter how small,” Surratt agreed. “We have a big responsibility, and (through this project) they stay connected to us and we stay connected to them … they are the builders of this community.”
Lingle Senior Center client Donna Phipps said she was looking forward to learning how to better keep in touch with her family.
“I’d like to use my cellphone,” Phipps said. “My grandkids send pictures of their kids to me and I can’t figure out how to get them. So, I miss out on a lot between visits because they’re growing so fast.”
The concept is a collaboration between the students of Goshen County School District No. 1, AARP’s Torrington Group, Bill Marsh, Torrington Rotary Club, and senior centers in the county.
L-FL teacher and Student Council Advisor Erin Estes said AARP reached out to the school district a few months ago.
“There were a couple of us kind of interested in pursuing it,” Estes said. “I thought it would be good for Student Council and Kara (Hill – L-FL teacher and FBLA Advisor) thought about it for FBLA … (L-FL Librarian) Denise Jackson kind of got it started, and Bill Marsh was instrumental, as well.
“We started getting a little bit more serious (about the project) about a month ago,” Estes continued, adding FBLA students surveyed senior residents to gauge interest in the tutoring sessions. “When the surveys started coming in, we thought, ‘OK, let’s do this.’”
Linda Cockett, director of the Lingle Senior Center, said the project hopes to reach other municipalities in Goshen County in the near future.
“Lingle is our pilot program, and we’re hoping to expand to Torrington and Yoder,” she said.
“There is such great value for both students and seniors when they have this sort of intergenerational experience,” Marsh, who is affiliated with both AARP and Torrington Rotary Club, said in a press release. “Hopefully this engaging activity will enhance the quality of life for the tutors and the recipients.”
