Big Brother, big pride

A regular businessman is in the making: Austen Wable, 11, owns a candy machine at Vanilla Green, a miniature golf course near the Muncie Mall. His Big Brother, junior Spencer Ozbun, is helping him learn about money. Ozbun initially filled the machine with candy for Austen, but it is Austen's responsibility to check the machine and use the money he's made to buy more when it's low.

"He's saving up to buy a new machine so he can expand his empire," junior Hannah Staton, Ozbun's girlfriend, said.

Ozbun has been volunteering for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, a mentoring program for children providing stability and consistency in their lives, since he was 16 years old, and this year, he was named Big Brother of the Year. He said it feels good to be recognized.

"It's kind of flattering because I know there's so many people in the program, and I know that everyone feels the same way I do about the program," Ozbun said.

Melanie Ozbun, Spencer's mother, couldn't be prouder of her son winning this award, but she could have seen it coming.

"I'm proud of the fact that Spencer was awarded the Big Brother of the Year," she said. "And I'm also not surprised about it ... he really deserves it."

However, Ozbun is humble. Although he is appreciative of the award and happy to say he won it, he doesn't want to act like a hero. He may have done a few extra things this year than in past years, like throw a "Lost"-themed birthday party for Austen and raise money for him to go to summer camp, but the award doesn't faze him.

"It's just an added bonus," Ozbun said. "It's like getting an award for hanging out with your family."

And for Ozbun, Austen is like one of the family. Because the two have been matched for three years. Austen spends a lot of time with Ozbun's family. Staton even said that sometimes the two are mistaken for actual brothers because the two having similar physical features.

Like many little brothers, Austen admires Ozbun.

"He's obsessed with anything Spencer likes. Spencer likes Hawaii, so Austen wants to move to Hawaii. Spencer likes the show ‘Lost,' so Austen has it memorized," Staton said.

Melanie Ozbun said her son has been a good role model for Austen. His grades have come up and he has become much more active in school.

"He really looks up to Spencer and wants to be like him," Melanie said.

When Spencer Ozbun first got involved in Big Brothers, Big Sisters, he never imagined he would have that much influence on a child. He said he's volunteered at other places throughout his life, but he never got near as much satisfaction as he gets with Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Austen's life has really grown to revolve around Ozbun.

If Austen says he's going to call at noon, Ozbun can depend on that call coming on the dot, not a second earlier or later.

Ozbun originally got involved with the program at 16 years old following much discussion with his father about volunteering. His father also started volunteering with him. Ozbun always knew about the organization, what it was and what it did, but had never been before. Not long after, Ozbun's brother got involved as well, with his mother following shortly after that. There's just one member of the family — Ozbun's younger sister — who is not yet 16 and is awaiting the ability to join.

But involvement has really become a family affair. The Ozbuns have all their little brothers and little sisters over often to run and play, in turn creating an extended family.

This extended family, and Austen specifically, has changed Ozbun for the better; being a Big Brother and a role model for a young child has made Ozbun want to be good, Staton said.

"Everything you do influences him 10 times more than even his mother would because he wants to look up to you," Staton said. "It's amazing to see a little kid look up to someone else that much."

Staton said it's important for Ozbun to make sure Austen has these experiences, and is proud that her boyfriend is doing so.

"It gives [Austen] a fighting chance to imagine a life for himself, things that he wants in his life that he might not have otherwise thought about," Staton said. "It's pretty amazing to see that your boyfriend had this influence on someone."