Inaugural High School Bigs | Dayton Leads the Way with BBBSNN 

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada, we believe that mentorship is a high-impact investment in our community’s future. That investment starts earlier than you might think. The story of our Inaugural High School Bigs in Dayton celebrates the successful launch and conclusion of our collaboration with Dayton High School and Dayton Elementary. This program isn’t just about high schooler Bigs helping elementary Littles with their homework; it is a high-level leadership lab where teens become the true Defenders of Potential. Where they are developing the empathy, responsibility, and teaching skills that define the next generation of Northern Nevada’s leaders. 

Mentorship is never a one-way street. By pouring into the potential of their Littles, our High School Bigs discovered that their own lives became more energized, focused, and inspired. This mutual relationship is the heartbeat of the BBBSNN mission.  

Program Highlights 

Each week presented a new opportunity for our High School Bigs to master leadership skills and put it into practice. The program was designed as a continuous cycle of growth. Where every Monday, the Bigs would dive into specific psychological and educational principles, ranging from building rapport to the science of learning through games. By Wednesday, they were stepping out of the classroom to apply these concepts through hands-on interaction with their Littles. 

The most meaningful part of this whole mentoring experience would have to be seeing the Littles grow, it may have been in small increments at times, but it was still all the more meaningful to me. – Dean, Big Brother 

This rhythmic process of learning and doing allowed the Bigs to consistently practice their leadership, refining their approach over time as they supported their Little’s growing confidence and academic journey. 

“I didn’t expect to learn so much about my Little personally. It wasn’t just teaching; it was a real friendship. Being from out of town, having a ‘Little Sister’ here filled a void for me.” – Mona, Big Sister 

The best part of being a Big is the experience and opportunity of being able to help my little. – Josh, Big Brother 

A Celebration of Connection 

To celebrate the conclusion of this inaugural session, we hosted a community celebration that brought together over 60 guests. Including families, school faculty, and local supporters. The room was buzzing with pride as our High School Bigs presented their final projects, showcasing the depth of their research and the heart they put into their weekly sessions. 

The celebration was a platform for leadership and reflection. The evening began with a look at the program’s vision for youth mentorship in Lyon County, followed by school and community leaders sharing how this initiative is already strengthening school culture. The most moving moments came directly from the High School Bigs. They took the floor to share what service and responsibility have meant to them this semester, while our Littles stood up to express the joy of having a Big in their corner. Between these personal stories and a final symposium where guests explored the Bigs’ academic displays, the night truly illustrated the “little moments” that create a big impact. 

Most importantly, it was a day of celebration for the matches themselves. Our Littles got to meet with their Bigs one last time for the semester. They shared high-fives and final “thank yous” that underscored the deep bonds formed over the last several months. 

It was a powerful testament to what happens when a community shows up to witness mentorship in action. 

“I’m just so excited to see my Big.” – Miguel, Little Brother 

Scaling the Impact 

The first session of High School Bigs proves that mentorship is a two-way street. These eight Dayton High Bigs have demonstrated that they are not just students, they are Defenders of Potential. They have provided the stability and guidance their Littles needed to power through their challenges, and in return, they have gained leadership skills that will serve them for a lifetime. 

“I learned that even on days when I didn’t necessarily want to come to school, I knew I had to come see my Littles. It taught me that people depend on me.” – Blake, Big Brother

Building on the overwhelming success of this pilot, our next step is to scale this mentorship model across Northern Nevada. Our vision for scaling this program is not to offer another club or after-school activity but to integrate leadership and the power of support in all youth across Northern Nevada. Our goal is to expand the High School Bigs program to a full academic year in additional schools, creating a sustainable pipeline of young mentors who will continue to steward the potential of our community for years to come. 

THANK YOU 

To the faculty at Dayton High School, including Ms. Shanna Krueger our fearless Dayton High School teacher leading the charge; Lyon County School District Superintendent Tim Logan; Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto and Congressman Amodei for supporting Senate Appropriations dollars that funded the launch of High School Bigs; Shayla Holmes, Lyon County Human Services Director, who supported our Senate Appropriations request and distribution of funds; the families of our Littles; Dr. Donny Newsome and Dr. Kendra Newsome at FitLearning for co-creating our curriculum, and the community members who came to celebrate this tremendous accomplishment, thank you.  

We are deeply grateful to our partners in Lyon County for believing in this vision and for helping us prove that when you invest in a teens’ ability to lead, the entire community rises. Thank you especially to our dedicated staff, Carrie Acosta and Erika Hopson, for navigating this new path forward for the next generation of leaders.  

Congratulations to the Dayton High School Bigs Class of 2026. You have officially left your mark on the next generation.