NGU’s Mentor Scholarship Program: Everything you need to know
C.J. Eldridge, Staff Writer
Designed to acclimate new students into campus life, the Mentor Scholarship Program is an opportunity for upperclassmen to guide their peers as they begin their time at NGU and earn some scholarship money while doing it.
NGU has done this program for around ten years. The scholarship is worth $1000, but this should not be the primary motivation for students looking to participate in the program.
“We don’t want people who are doing it for the scholarship. We want people who are doing it ‘cause they want to serve and want to invest in our freshmen. Really, the people who we’re looking to hire are people who have a heart to serve,” Sara Black, NGU counselor, said.
You don’t have to be an outgoing person to be a good mentor either. Some of the very best mentors have been more reserved, quiet people–but they genuinely cared about others. They are seeking a wide range of personalities, Black added.
Mentors are expected to attend the NGU 101 class–formerly First Year Experience–in the fall, helping lead the class and assisting with grading. In the spring semester, the mentors are to reach out to the students they worked with, help them get plugged into the university and carry on a relationship with them.
The first step to becoming a peer mentor is filling out an application. After the applications have been reviewed, select students are picked to move on to the interview process. The applications are due March 31, and interviews take place the first two weeks of April.
There are many benefits to participating in the program. It’s a stepping stone to getting established in student leadership, gaining leadership experience, building up a resume, getting more plugged into the campus and building relationships with others.
If someone is interested in eventually being an SLT, this is a beneficial way to get started down that path.
“Getting to be an FYE mentor has been a life-changing experience. It truly shaped the way that I feel about North Greenville as a whole and challenged me to be an example of Christ to those around me,” said Jordan Bezek, a student who has previously participated in the program.
Teaching in FYE proved over and over again how much fun it was to serve people and to live lovingly toward others around her. Being an FYE mentor is forever. It doesn’t end with the class. Mentors have the chance to continue to be an integral part of what makes NGU a blessing to students, Bezek explained.
It also gives an opportunity for people to develop lasting relationships with others. Bezek was later able to mentor students alongside Patrick Scott, who was her mentor when she first started the FYE class freshman year.
There used to be two mentors per FYE class, but this has recently been bumped down to one. While there are less positions for students to fill now, mentors are needed every fall, so there are ample opportunities in the future to participate if the limited spaces available run out.
