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George Hollo has coordinated the IBM Dallas MentorPlace
program for the past three years.

For the past three years, George Hollo and hundreds of his

     colleagues have visited ancient
       Rome, perused the world's great
         art treasures and - oh yes -
           become reacquainted with math
           and science exercises. It's all
          part of his work coordinating the
         IBM MentorPlace program in
        the Dallas area.

"We learn as much from the students
as they do from us," said Hollo, who
works in IBM Sales & Distribution.

Currently, the Dallas MentorPlace program
at Walnut Hill Elementary has 158 students,
covering grades four through six. There are

approximately 90 mentors from a largely mobile IBM workforce of 400 employees.

"During the years that I mentored one of my students, I saw a continual improvement in written skills," said Hollo. "Her online conversations went from one-word responses to full sentences. The grammar improved and she really grew up. Seeing that progression is great. It must be how teachers feel."

Hollo has also included mentors from IBM Brazil in the Dallas program; these employees bring a unique perspective to local students. Internationally, there are IBM MentorPlace programs in 25 countries involving more than 5,000 IBMers and 6,500 students.

Photo and caption: IBM MentorPlace in Dallas is using the Web site partnership between IBM and the State Hermitage Museum of Russia as a source of art history.

MentorPlace and classroom curriculum

Since it was established in 2000, IBM MentorPlace has evolved and improved the tools that mentors use to communicate with students. In addition, MentorPlace exercises have become more closely tied to classroom curriculum.

"We use resources such as TryScience and the Hermitage site, as well as modules such as the history of ancient Rome, as the basis for extending what teachers use in the classroom," said Hollo. "

And communication is easy and secure because of the MentorPlace tool and the effective improvements that continue to be made to it." The result is an integrated mentoring experience that facilitates communication.

IBM volunteers spend an hour a week online with students and meet with mentees at the beginning and end of semesters. The emphasis is on online academic coaching and assistance. However, often students talk to their mentors about other issues in their lives.

"I had one student whose family had a lot of pets," said Hollo. "And, as we all know, pets come and go. So I've been able to help with things like that." It's also a small world for IBM mentors. "This year, by total chance, I happened to be matched with the younger sister of a girl I mentored four years ago," he said. "She looked at me and said, 'Didn't you used to have glasses? My sister had a picture of you on our refrigerator.'"

Volunteering: The bigger picture

IBM MentorPlace is just one of Hollo's community volunteer activities. He belongs to a local science fiction fan club based on community service. The group sings in a community choir and participates in an Adopt-A-Family program during the holidays. He appreciates the support IBM shows to employees through efforts such as On Demand Community.

"I've worked at a number of companies and many of them would throw $1 million at a community or philanthropic issue," he said. "IBM is different. The company develops tools and encourages volunteerism. This has a long-term impact on the community."

And Hollo sees that long-term impact through his involvement with IBM MentorPlace.

"Through its emphasis on volunteerism, IBM is helping to invest in young people. That's important. The future of our nation and the world is tied up in ensuring these young people get the chance they need to be successful. I'm thankful for the opportunity to help."