It wasn't quite like meeting a mystery date on MTV's "Singled Out," but it certainly was surprising.
After a two-month online relationship, mentors from the English Composition Board Peer Tutoring Program and their mentees at Detroit's Murray-Wright High School met face to face Friday morning.
The University tutors have been helping their college-bound cybermentees to prepare writing samples for American College Test portfolios.
"I think it's weird to meet someone that you've never seen, just talked to over a computer," LSA senior Anne Kolkman said.
Each ECB mentor was paired with one mentee at the beginning of the tutoring program.
"I was nervous because when you talk online, it's different than seeing someone face to face," said Murray-Wright sophomore Lakisha Bomar. "You don't know what their reaction's going to be."
The students came together for the first time at a presentation in Murray-Wright's Snead Auditorium. They laughed and hugged as they exchanged T-shirts featuring their respective school logos.
"This is a celebration which will indeed spread around to all of Detroit public schools," Murray-Wright Principal Sallie Polk said.
"Today we connect names and faces," said Murray-Wright sophomore Shanita Rutland. "Today our partnership becomes a friendship."
Murray-Wright sophomore Darwin Brooks said, "I was really looking forward to this. It was kind of exciting."
The Murray-Wright students gave their mentors a tour of the high school's new technology center, where they will continue to work online for the rest of the semester.
"This is really just the beginning. I hope I can just really encourage her to write a lot," LSA junior Dana Treuhaft said about her Murray-Wright mentee.
"I hope we can keep in mind that writing is fun," said Music junior Laurah Klepinger.
Friday's meeting was the culmination of a project that has been in the development stage for nearly three years.
"It was student-initiated," said Mark Haas, program development director for the University's Academic Outreach program. "They created the essence of this idea which is a partnership today."
Previous University tutors originated the idea of working with high school students.
"This was a moment we all worked so hard for," said Barbara Monroe, a coordinator for the ECB Peer Tutoring Program.
The success of the English cybermentoring program may lead to expansions of peer tutoring programs in the future.
"Someday I'd like to see math and science programs for Murray-Wright and other Detroit schools," Haas said.
In the meantime, Detroit Public Schools superintendent Mary Jeanmarie was satisfied with the current progress that was evident in Friday's event.
"This is truly a success story I will always remember," Jeanmarie said.
The ECB is currently accepting nominations for new cybermentors. For more information, contact the ECB office at 764-0429.