STEM Mentor Program
Building bright futures in STEM and meaningful connections between STEM professionals, student mentors, and STEM Signing Day Honorees.
Mentor ApplicationComplete Mentee SurveyWhile every young person carries great potential, opportunities are not always equitably distributed. This is especially true during the time when students are graduating high school and entering college, where first-generation college students are especially likely to be challenged in navigating the system.
STEM Signing Day Honorees represent a pool of young people who have limitless potential. Chosen for a scholarship and award opportunity their senior years as they plan futures in STEM, they’ve already demonstrated they possess the skills and experiences we need in our future engineers, computer programmers, medical professionals, and scientists. However, representing demographics that are underrepresented in STEM, we know they will benefit greatly from caring adult mentors who will encourage them to persist at their chosen career paths and navigate any barriers which might emerge as they embark on their journey to college and their careers.
By providing guidance, motivation, emotional support and role modeling, we can enable youth to champion their wealth of diversity and thoughtful ideas for the future. We are closing the mentoring gap and holding the door of opportunity open. And we need mentors like you to add to their toolboxes to unlock those doors to opportunity.
If you are interested in learning more, please attend an upcoming information session. If you’re intrigued and wish to become a mentor, please complete the mentor application.
STEM Signing Day Mentors are STEM professionals, Boeing employees, Motorola Solutions Foundation employees, students who are currently pursuing STEM in undergrad, graduate, or PhD, and STEM Signing Day alum.
- 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.
- The mentoring length is one year, but depending on how the mentoring relationship progresses it may be shorter or extend beyond one year.
- Beyond scheduled meetings, mentors are expected to check in with their mentee regularly through email at least once a month.
- Meetings are initiated by the mentee. It’s also the mentee’s responsibility to prepare discussion topics for meetings.
- Meetings and methods of communication are agreed on between the mentor and mentee.
STEM Signing Day honorees and alum from Chicago and Gary are able to become mentees. To join the program and be matched with a mentor, complete the Mentee Survey.
PLEASE NOTE: If you a 2018-2021 STEM Signing Day Alum, you must first create an account to complete the survey. If you are a 2022 STEM Signing Day Honoree, you will login using the email with which you applied.
Mentee Role
- Identify the areas and skills you want to work on with your mentor.
- Be proactive in scheduling meetings and contacting your mentor.
- Be open to talking about yourself, your goals, and leaning new things.
- A mentor can help you decide on classes, find career paths, offer their experience and provide a new perspective. Discuss with your mentor how they can best help you achieve your goals.
- The mentoring length is one year, but depending on how the mentoring relationship progresses it may be shorter or extend beyond one year.
- Meetings are initiated by the mentee. It’s also the mentee’s responsibility to prepare discussion topics for meetings.
- Meetings and methods of communication are agreed on between the mentor and mentee.
Complete the Mentor Application following these steps:
- Click “Mentor” button on the right hand side of the home page
- Complete the registration form
- Once completed, you’ll arrive at your dashboard. Select “Mentor Application” from the drop down and follow the prompts to complete your application.
- If you don’t complete your mentor application in one sitting, be sure to save your progress. Next time you visit, click “Login” button on awards.projectexploration.org to return to your application and pick up where you left off.
Mentor/mentee matching
- Cohort 1 – Mentors are matched with STEM Signing Day recipients from 2018, 2019, or 2020. Mentees are current college students.
- Cohort 2 – Mentors are matched with STEM Signing Day recipients from this upcoming 2021 event. Mentees are prospective college students.
If an immediate match is not available, the mentor’s information will be kept for potential future matches.
Complete the Mentee Survey following these steps:
If you are a 2018-2021 STEM Signing Day Honoree:
- Click “Student” button on the right hand side of the home page
- Complete the registration form
- Once completed, you’ll arrive at your dashboard. Select “Mentee Survey” from the drop down and follow the prompts to complete your survey.
- If you don’t complete your survey in one sitting, be sure to save your progress. Next time you visit, click “Login” button on awards.projectexploration.org to return to your survey and pick up where you left off.
If you are a 2022 STEM Signing Day Honoree:
- Click “Login” button on the right hand side of the home page
- You’ll arrive at your dashboard. Select “Mentee Survey” from the drop down and follow the prompts to complete your survey.
- If you don’t complete your survey in one sitting, be sure to save your progress. Next time you visit, login again at awards.projectexploration.org to return and pick up where you left off.
Mentor/mentee matching
- Cohort 1 – Mentors are matched with STEM Signing Day recipients from 2018, 2019, or 2020. Mentees are current college students.
- Cohort 2 – Mentors are matched with STEM Signing Day recipients from this upcoming 2021 event. Mentees are prospective college students.
If an immediate match is not available, the mentee’s information will be kept for potential future matches.
Upcoming Information Sessions
The first STEM Mentor training will be held June 17, 2022. Please "RSVP" to stay informed on information sessions and next steps for prospective mentors.
The STEM Signing Day Mentorship Program is a great opportunity for professionals and students to form connections that can lead to tremendous personal growth for both the mentor and mentee.
In these sessions we discuss the timeline of the program, ways that mentors can be a resource to mentees, and more information about how to get involved.
