By: Tyler Brannigan

During my first semester of college, I was filled with excitement and anticipation, but also frightened of stepping into something so unfamiliar. To find my footing in a place so new, I clung to older Coronat Scholars. Rose and Maya, now juniors, and senior Abigail became my mentors, showing me how to register for classes, answering questions about what professors to take courses with, suggesting the best classes to fill requirements and giving me tips on how to make the most of the experience we’ve been given as Coronat Scholars. They told me what to pack for the camping trip that Coronat Scholars take in the fall each year, the best spots to eat off campus and what organizations I should think about getting involved with. This organic connection with older students left me wondering what a structured mentor program would mean to the incoming Coronat Scholars each year. I imagined that all of them would value this kind of mentorship, as I did.

The Coronat Scholarship not only gave me mentors but also some of my closest friends. When talking to Madeline Gibbons, one of my best friends and a sophomore Coronat Scholar, about what this program could mean, she shared my sentiment that a mentor program would mean an even stronger community and would connect students across classes. So, in May of last year, Madeline and I approached Coronat Program directors Professor Pralle and Professor Roylance about implementing a mentor-mentee program to connect first-year students (mentees) to second-year mentors. Participation in the program would be entirely voluntary and would sustain itself by having each second-year class match with mentees in the first year. Eventually, there would be a line of mentors stretching across four classes of Scholars on campus. Madeline and I jumped right into organizing and planning, and the program quickly became a reality.

During the mentor-mentee “matching” process, first- and second-year students went on study dates, lunch breaks or met for dinner. This not only ensured that students got to know one another, but also fostered organic friendships. Following two weeks of getting to know as many scholars as possible, mentors and mentees submitted a list of names for who they wanted to be paired with. Putting this puzzle together was a bit tricky, but Madeline and I were able to match all the mentors with mentees. There was much anticipation leading up to revealing the pairings, and mentors expressed wanting to have a big reveal event in person. In collaborating with our peers, Madeline and I organized an event where mentors surprised their mentees. Supported by an Insomnia Cookies delivery from our program directors, the room we reserved was filled with laughter and music and buzzed with the excitement of the first-ever mentor-mentee matches. When I was finally able to pair with Elisabeth Nelson, a first-year majoring in biology, I was overwhelmed with appreciation for the Coronat program unlike before. It was an incredibly rewarding feeling seeing my peers so excited to be a part of this program as they surprised their mentees.

Each of these mentoring relationships looks different. Besides the actual organizing of matching students with one another, the program is intentionally designed for pairings to get in what they wish to take out. For example, Elisabeth and I make every effort we can to see each other at least once a week and just catch up. Our relationship is not as serious as the word mentor would indicate because she has quickly become one of my closest friends, making me laugh like no other with her witty sarcasm. Our dynamic has transformed from mentor-mentee to a strong friendship. This special relationship, this friendship, is exactly what I wanted to take away when Madeline and I first thought of doing something like this. It was ambitious work for two people, but I knew we were successful when I introduced Elisabeth to my mentors. Although I can never know how all of my peers are feeling and I would never wish to speak for them, I can only hope they feel the same sense of pride and gratitude for having this opportunity and community.