05/29/2026
🎉 Congratulations to Carter, Leonia, Lilli, and Aaron on their high school graduations! 🎓
Their journeys with their Bigs were filled with meaningful moments of growth, encouragement, connection, and fun — and the impact of those relationships will continue far beyond graduation day.
Carter shared how much it meant to have a positive male role model in his life. He appreciated that Ryan was a great listener and easy to talk to. Ryan said it was both fun and rewarding to watch Carter grow over the years, noting his creativity, artistic talent, and willingness to try new things.
Leonia said she loved everything about Cathy — especially how kind, fun, and outgoing she was. Cathy shared how impressed she has always been with Leonia’s maturity and her commitment to doing the right thing, even when it wasn’t easy.
Lilli said she always looked forward to visits with Ella, especially on difficult days. Ella reflected on how special it has been to watch Lilli grow through the years, from playing games together in the gym during elementary school to seeing her thrive with friends in high school.
Aaron’s match with Evan began through our High School Bigs program, and Aaron said he enjoyed hearing about Evan’s college experiences as their match continued while Evan attended Purdue. Evan shared how meaningful it has been to watch Aaron grow and change over the years and how grateful he was that they were able to stay connected through COVID and while he was attending college. Congratulations to Evan, as well, on his college graduation!
While these matches through Big Brothers Big Sisters have officially closed, the memories, encouragement, and positive impact of these mentoring relationships will continue shaping their futures for years to come.
Together, the future looks BIG! 💚
Inspired by stories like these? They all started with one caring adult or teen choosing to show up.
➡️ Learn how you can make a lasting impact and become a Big at foundationforyouth.com/bbbs. As Cathy shared, "Being a BBS Big is easy - you just need to make the time and be consistent!"
