El Dorado County Sheriff makes wish for reunion come true for local high schooler

The El Dorado County Sheriff gave a local high school student a thrilling Thanksgiving surprise he will likely never forget. Sheriff Jeff Leikauf walked into Independence High School's Thanksgiving feast on Nov. 20 specifically seeking out high school junior Lucas McRoberts. Years before, Sheriff Leikauf had been a Big Brother to Lucas. The moment the two reunited, it was immediately clear to those watching just how deeply their connection shaped both of their lives. According to Principal Jennifer Myers, Lucas has grown into a quiet but powerful leader on campus – someone other students trust and staff rely on. "Lucas is one of our main guys," Myers said. "He helps us resolve student conflicts before they grow, he volunteers for everything, and he helped build our greenhouses; we trust him completely. He's got straight A's. He's the most honest, incredible kid." Ms. Myers shared that Lucas often talked about the impact Sheriff Leikauf had on him when he was younger. "He said, 'Hey Myers, does Leikauf ever come here? He was my Big Brother. He had such an impact on me; I would love to see him.' " Ms. Myers reached out to Sheriff Leikauf, arranged the secret visit and watched the surprise unfold. "It was the most incredible moment," said Myers. "All of the work and growth in Lucas' early years clearly made such an impact. He's an absolutely phenomenal leader on campus. I love that." For Sheriff Leikauf, the reunion was equally meaningful. "It's meant to be," he said. "I absolutely relish the time being a Big Brother – providing support, providing guidance. You don't always realize the things you're imparting on a young person just by being in their life." When Myers emailed him with an update on Lucas, Leikauf said he was deeply affected. "It literally filled my heart," Leikauf said. "It took me back to when I first got Lucas as a Little – the football games, going out for pizza, watching his Eagles play, even taking him with my family to the National Finals Rodeo. You don't know the impact at the time, but obviously it meant something." The sheriff added that being part of Big Brothers Big Sisters reaffirmed his own calling, saying, "My heart is to serve people. Being connected with someone like Lucas reminded me that the gift God gave me – being a public servant – is really about being of service to everybody." At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra, stories like this are the reason the work matters. Mentorship doesn't just change one day or one year, it can change the entire trajectory of a young person's life. To help ensure more young people experience the kind of support Lucas received, BBBSNS is asking the community to donate to the organization at bbbsns.org.