Vic: empty-nester engineer welcomes mentoring for ‘high probability of success’

Some empty-nesters look forward to spending more time on their own hobbies and interests. Not Vic Andrade.

When his son got married and his daughter started med school, Vic realized he missed being a parent. He especially missed evenings of helping with math homework and teaching life skills.

So when his daughter suggested Vic mentor a high school student with college aspirations through Starfish Initiative, a United Way agency, he took her up on the idea.

Matched with 15-year-old George, who wants to be an engineer too, Vic spent the first year working on their relationship. They played Frisbee golf, built and launched rockets, paddled on the canal and made root beer together.

This year, they are shifting their attention to academics, focusing on George's class ranking and grade point average to get him into college and preparing him for success in engineering school.

Vic says he enjoys the mentor relationship "because it's personal, and it's highly probable to be successful" with George graduating from college and becoming an engineer.

Since they meet once a week at the Pike Library, WISH TV's Joy Dumandan (right) chose to interview them there for the United Way special about volunteer opportunities. In this picture, she and videographer Jarod Kerfoot (left) discuss with Vic and George how they'll put the story together.

Look for it Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. on WISH TV 8 during a station break.
We hope it's "highly probable" to inspire you to volunteer too!

--Mary Kinney, public/media relations director, United Way of Central Indiana