Andrew Guymon Receives U.S. Public Health Service Award
The Mental Game aims to advocate for the well-being of South Dakota’s most underserved youth by building relationships between high-achieving mentors and at-risk kids of all ages, using sports as a conduit to build those enduring relationships with three key strategies: mentorship, healthy habits and service learning.
The initiative partners with various institutions for volunteers, financial and equipment donations: the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rapid City Area Schools employees, South Dakota Mines premedical students, South Dakota State University, Scheels Sporting Goods and The Tennis Center of the Black Hills.
Volunteer mentors intentionally engage in efforts to build relationships with the kids at Children’s Home Society of the Black Hills (CHSBH), model good behaviors, and most importantly, show the kids that they care for them. Mentors engage in directed discussions about healthy habits such as setting short- and long-term goals, practicing kindness toward others and emotional regulation. The initiative emphasizes reflection among volunteers through informal group discussions about experiences after each sporting event to cultivate a culture of empathy and a steadfast commitment to serving youth.
“Ultimately, the central goal is to convey care and support, reassuring these kids that their local community, beyond the CHSBH staff, cares for, loves and advocates for them,” said Guymon a Rapid City native. “Receiving this award is a deeply humbling honor, and it is a by-product of the genuine care and efforts that the Children’s Home faculty and The Mental Game volunteers have offered.”
The Mental Game has reached more than 40 kids, thanks to nearly 20 volunteers dedicated to promoting child and adolescent health and well-being.
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