Nichole Weise, a junior elementary education major from Dike, was one of three Buena Vista University (BVU) students who presented as a group at the Midwest Service Leaders Conference on Oct. 24-25. Their presentation, “An Inside Look at Mentoring Description,” focused on the university’s BV Buddies program, the building of reciprocal relationships and its impact on mentors and mentees.

BV Buddies is a mentoring organization that is run by BVU in conjunction with the mentoring program Teammates in the Storm Lake school district. BV Buddies pairs college students with students in middle school to form a positive, uplifting relationship.

The BVU students were among 170 participants who attended the conference. Other colleges presenting at the conference include Wartburg College, Northern Illinois University, Drake University, Marquette University, University of Central Oklahoma, Saint Norbert College and Wheaton College.

The biennial conference, first hosted in 2010 by Marquette, was held at Wartburg College in Waverly.