Mentor College Students Pursuing STEM Careers

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STEM Signing Day is an annual event wherein Chicago Public School and Gary Community and Charter School students are recognized, awarded a scholarship, and mentor as they pursue STEM majors and careers. While they’ve already demonstrated they possess the skills and experiences we need in our future engineers, computer programmers, medical professionals, and scientists, they represent demographics that are underrepresented in STEM and are often first generation college students. Therefore, as a part of their recognition as STEM Signing Day honorees, PE connects them with mentors who encourage them to persist at their chosen career paths and help them navigate any barriers which might emerge as they embark on their journey to college and their careers.

Mentor Role

• Mentors are paired with STEM Signing Day Honorees, young adults from Chicago, IL and Gary, IN who will be pursuing a STEM degree in post-secondary education.
• Mentors work with mentees to identify goals, discuss education plans, give career advice, develop technical and soft skills to succeed in the STEM fields.
• Support mentees by providing a space for reflection, discussion, and idea sharing.

Time Commitment

• The mentoring length is one year, but depending on how the mentoring relationship progresses it may be shorter or extend beyond one year.
• The first three months of the mentoring relationship include monthly meetings, but this schedule can be adjusted at the discretion of the mentee and mentor
• Beyond scheduled meetings, mentors are expected to check in with their mentee regularly through email and answer questions emailed by the mentee
• Meetings (beyond the initial three) are initiated by the mentee
• Meetings and methods of communication are agreed on between the mentor and mentee

If you're interested in this opportunity, learn more and apply: awards.projectexploration.org. If you have any questions, please email hdembosky@projectexploration.org.