Seeking Mentors for Adult College Students!

Have you ever said or thought, "I wish someone had told me about ____ when I was in school"? You could be that someone for a college student by signing up to be a mentor with the Alray Scholars Program!

About the Alray Scholars Program:

The Alray Scholars Program envisions a day when all Boston students will have access to the financial, academic, and emotional support they need to enroll in college, graduate, and be economically self-sufficient. To that end, we give students a second chance at college through scholarships, mentoring, and career services. We help students who suffered setbacks on their first try at college with building a support system to overcome hurdles in their pursuit of higher education. For the past 15 years, over 100 students have earned their first college degrees through our program.

About the Role of the Volunteer Mentor:

The Alray Scholars Program is looking for caring, responsible, adult volunteers who can serve as trusted friends, advisors, and advocates to Alray scholars. As a mentor, you would support a scholar in developing important academic and life skills, identifying useful resources, making positive life decisions, and ultimately earning an Associate, Bachelor, or vocational degree.

We have found that when students are able to develop a strong relationship with a caring mentor, and know they have a reliable advocate in their corner, they feel better equipped to surmount the hurdles that come their way, and make sound decisions about their future. In many cases, mentoring can be even more valuable to students than scholarship money.

Being a mentor in the Alray Scholars Program requires that you:

• Commit to working with one scholar for a minimum of one year
• Attend orientation and training session(s)
• Meet with your scholar once a month
• Maintaining contact by connecting an additional 1-2 times in between meetings
• Listen and provide encouragement, direction, and support
• Empower your scholar to self-advocate within the academic environment
• Help set academic and career goals
• Check in with Alray staff to provide short progress reports 3-4 times/year

While we ask our mentors for an initial one-year commitment, we hope that you and your scholar will bond over the course of the year and that the relationship will continue until the scholar finishes their educational program. Many mentors and mentees build a bond that extends beyond the length of the program.

Alray staff are easily accessible and available to provide support to mentors at every step of the way. We provide regular check-ins throughout the year, as well as periodic group mentor meetings and training sessions. Mentors are encouraged to share their ideas and experiences to provide feedback for improving the program.

What Makes a Successful Volunteer Mentor:

We’re always looking for volunteers to mentor future Alray scholars. Our most successful mentors are reliable adults who align with the following:

• Have some college experience
• Are dedicated to their scholar, whether that’s for one year or longer
• Are committed to the program’s policy of open communication, with staff and with their scholar
• Are proactive and skilled in problem solving
• Display empathy and are sensitive to the needs and diverse backgrounds of our scholars
• Have a passion for supporting adult students who are navigating the higher education landscape

What You Gain from the Experience:

We receive positive feedback from our mentors on the rewarding feeling of supporting thier scholar and watching them succeed. If that's not a good enough reason, as a mentor, you can benefit from the following:

• Gain mentoring and volunteering experience
• Expand your community and build new relationships
• Knowledge from both our trainings and the experience of problem-solving with your scholar
• Be part of a student's network for success
• Feel good about supporting an adult student (because college isn't easy)

How to Become a Volunteer Mentor:

• Submit an online application, which includes a few short-responses and a request for 2 references
• An Alray staff member will reach out to schedule a call to get to know you better

Watch our video to learn more: Celebrating 15 years of the Alray Scholars Program