The Peer Mentor Program hosted its Mix and Match: Annual Convocation last Friday in the Witherspoon Student Center. The event kicked off the Fall 2013 semester, welcoming its student mentors and mentees to the new academic year. 

The Peer Mentor Program is organized within the Department of Multicultural Student Affairs and serves hundreds of N.C. State students each year.  It is designed to promote support for first-year students from culturally diverse backgrounds by developing mentoring relationships. 

The program began in 1982, and its network continues to grow with recognition. In the last three decades it has grown stronger and more effective in aiding the academic, emotional and social adjustment of all culturally diverse first-year students. 

Currently there are 80 mentors involved in the program and more than 120 mentees. The program is still accepting mentees. Any first-year student can request to be served by an upperclassmen mentor through the Peer Mentor Program. 

Mary Medina, the Peer Mentor Program advisor, works alongside Rob Bradley, the Multicultural Student Affairs director, to make the Peer Mentor Program a success. Medina is beginning her second year as program advisor. 

“The purpose of the program is for upperclassman mentors to be used as resources to first year student mentees and to assist them in the transition to college, both socially and academically,” Medina said. “The mentors have regular contact with mentees via Facebook, phone and email.”  

Medina oversees the mentors, ensuring they communicate with their mentees on a weekly basis and maintaining their goals and responsibilities of fostering student success.  

Assigning mentors to mentees can be very time consuming, according to Medina. Some mentees may prefer to be matched with a mentor of the same gender and in the same major. Others care more about certain characteristics or interests. Medina must consider all of these options when pairing mentors with mentees. 

Thomas Jasmine, a junior majoring in art studies, has participated in the program since his freshman year. 

“I had an excellent mentee freshman year and had passion to give back to the program,” Jasmine said.  

Starting his second year as a mentor, he said he’s excited to get connected with his mentee. His mentee, Aaron Holmes, is anxious to start the program as well. 

Holmes, a freshman in First Year College, found out about the Peer Mentor Program during Summer START. 

“I hope to learn from him [Jasmine] about N.C. State and about being a college student so I can be successful,” Holmes said.  

The Peer Mentor Program hosts numerous events throughout the year to ensure the retention of student participants. The first on the list is the Mentor-Mentee Cookout, which will take place Thursday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. on Tucker/Owen Beach. 

Those interested in becoming part of the Peer Mentor Program as a future mentor or mentee should contact Medina at mcmedina@ncsu.edu.