Joy Abia, Mentor of Recent Skyline High Graduate, Receives Statewide Service Honor

The woman who took time out of her schedule to give extra support and guidance to a recent  graduate has been honored as the 2011 Outstanding Mentor in the state of Washington, the said on its website.

Joy Abia received the award from the Washington State Mentors group. Abia became a mentor two years ago and gave books to a student named M'Kayla in which the themes centered around people overcoming obstacles. M'Kayla's family moved from place to place and before she graduated in June, she had attended 11 schools.

In a story posted on the district's website, officials noted the support that Abia gave to M'Kayla:

Joy and M'Kayla created an instant bond, with Joy providing a stable, guiding presence. Joy encouraged M’Kayla to set goals and supported her in meeting them. Joy believed in M'Kayla and told her that continuously.

The district said that Abia's drive to make deeper community connections prompted her to become a mentor. She worked with VOICE, Volunteers of Issaquah Changing Education. It is a program supported by the district and the Issaquah Schools Foundation.

In April, before the last academic year ended, M'Kayla talked at an Issaquah Schools Foundation gathering about how the extra support made a difference.

Abia also spoke to the audience. "Mentoring is both a gift to the mentee and to the mentor," she said in her speech, which was taped and posted on YouTube.

M'Kayla told those gathered that her goal is to continue her education at and eventually become a marine biologist.

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