Ten-year-old Fatae Beasley held a neon orange bowling ball in his hand and shuffled down the lane at a Lansing bowling alley.

He watched as his ball knocked down all 10 pins and celebrated his first-ever strike by high-fiving his mentor, zoology senior Bryan Voss.

"How does it feel?" Voss asked.

"Fun," Fatae said, smiling.

Fatae and Voss spent Sunday evening bowling and shooting pool together at Holiday Lanes, 3101 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lansing Inc. paired them up nearly two years ago. A few times each month Voss and Fatae, a fourth grader at Mount Hope Elementary School, get together to play video games, work on homework or putt-putt.

Fatae lives in Lansing with his grandmother and has two brothers, who are also in the program.

But he prefers spending time with his older mentor, as opposed to his siblings ages 12 and 13.

"They're funner than your brothers," Fatae said.

About 30-35 percent of all mentors are MSU students, said Erin Wieczorek, the media and resource development coordinator for the program.

The local volunteer program works with more than 500 children in five counties, Wieczorek said, most of whom are from the Lansing area.

"We've heard students say they got more out of it than the child," she said.

After meeting Fatae nearly two years ago, Voss said he has noticed a gradual change in his Little Brother. He's watched Fatae slowly transition out of his quiet demeanor, and now they have a closer bond.

"I saw him come from a shy kid," Voss said. "Now, he's more open."

There's also been an improvement in his schoolwork, he said.

In order for students to become mentors, they are interviewed and screened by Big Brothers Big Sisters to make sure they are responsible, Wieczorek said.

Students must be willing to commit six months to a year with their child, she said.

Spending time with Fatae has been a new experience for Voss, who heard about the program from a co-worker who enjoyed mentoring.

Working with children taught Voss patience and how to answer their questions, he said.

"I never had contact with younger kids," he said.

Communication junior Megan Bensette said the program gave her a chance to spend time with children, an opportunity that does not always exist in college.

"I like working with kids," Bensette said. "They are so innocent and likable."

Bensette applied to be a mentor in December 2004 and said she thought about becoming a mentor everyday.

She finally met her Little Sister at the start of the semester. Now the duo bakes cookies, ice skates together and plans to attend an upcoming Harlem Globetrotters game.

Economics senior Neal Wagner's Little Brother came into his life because the boy's mother thought he needed more of a male influence. The 8-year-old's parents divorced, and his father recently died.

By spending a few hours a week together, Wagner said he hopes to leave a long-term impact on his Little Brother.

"I thought it'd be a cool and interesting way to give back to the community," he said.

In the last year, the pair attended Lansing Lugnuts Minor League Baseball games, movies and went bowling.

When Wagner graduates this May, he said he wants to stay in the Lansing area so he can keep mentoring.

"It's a cross between a friend and a little brother," Wagner said.

Staff writer Gabrielle Russon can be reached at russonga@msu.edu.