Organizations and individuals involved with the Rome school district’s mentoring initiative for students received state recognition Friday for work in partnership with the New York State Mentoring Program, and for efforts to help expand the Rome program.

Certificates of Recognition signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo plus Letters of Appreciation from his mother Matilda Cuomo, chair of the NYS Mentoring program, were presented at the school district office, according to an announcement by the local program. Recipients included the school district; Rome Area Chamber of Commerce; Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS); Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), locally known as Rome Lab; and Rome residents Frank Di Berardino and his sister Paula Di Berardino.

The presentation coincided with the start of the fourth year of mentoring in the district; it includes all seven elementary schools, with over 70 volunteers who will mentor students in one-hour weekly sessions through May. The NYS Mentoring Program’s goal is to create positive and supportive mentoring relationships that help students stay engaged in school and in their studies.

The announcement outlined contributions of those recognized:

• Rome school district — Under Superintendent Peter C. Blake’s leadership, the program began with three participating schools and grew to seven. District Director of Counseling Amanda S. Jones oversees site coordinators at the mentoring locations plus the process of selecting students.

• Rome Area Chamber of Commerce — Under the direction of President Bill Guglielmo and Education Committee Chair Debbie Grogan, the chamber has taken a lead role in securing mentors. It also has helped promote public awareness of mentoring.

• EADS — With support by Col. Paul M. Bishop, commander of the 224th Air Defense Group at EADS, its members have participated in the program for the fourth straight year. EADS’ mentor-recruitment liaison is Tech. Sgt. Matthew A. Grinnell of the 224th Support Squadron.

• AFRL/Rome Lab— Lab officials have encouraged civilian and military members to participate as mentor volunteers. Among them is Timothy A. Anderson, Chief of the Contracting Division of AFRL’s Information Directorate and a mentor.

• Paula Di Berardino — A Special Projects Volunteer with the NYS Mentoring Program, she helped re-establish the statewide program in 2015 and has provided administrative and mentoring assistance in the Rome district’s seven elementary schools since the local program was created.

• Frank Di Berardino — A charter member of the Advisory Council of the NYS Mentoring Program, he has helped it launch new mentoring initiatives throughout the state. He helped establish the Rome mentoring program in 2016, and continues to provide guidance and support.