Engineering is a demanding field that requires years of education and experience to cultivate valued professionals. Fortunately today, new programs are preparing young high school students for this journey well before they enter college.

At the Engineering & Design Academy at Patrick Henry High School (PHHS) in San Diego, CA a new mentoring program will give students an idea about where their aspirations might lead them. We need interested engineers and related technical professionals to apply now to be a mentor and make a profound difference in the lives of student engineers. Mentors will work with a group of three 11th graders at six scheduled and pre-planned meetings during the coming 2012-13 school year.

Meetings will last approximately two hours around lunchtime once each month (Oct, Nov, Jan, Feb, Mar, & Apr). Food and materials will be provided, so mentoring does not require much additional planning or preparation. There will be a mentor training session in September to provide you with complete information about what to expect. Mentors must complete a full background clearance before being accepted into the program.

We are looking for people who:
• Can commit to 6 monthly meetings during the school year (~ lunch time).
• Currently work in the Engineering profession or a math/science related field.
• Are willing to share their experiences and expertise with students.
• Are willing to listen to and encourage students.
Please consider taking part in this exciting opportunity to make in difference in the lives of students. Also, please forward this message to anyone who might be a good mentor!

The Engineering & Design Academy at PHHS works in partnership with the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (www.nacme.org), the National Academy Foundation
(www.naf.org), and Project Lead the Way (www.pltw.org). More information about the program can be found at the academy’s website: http://henry.sandi.net/departments/engr/
To let us know you are interested, or to just get more information about the program, please contact:
Steve Siefert
Mentor Program Coordinator
steves@iosdv.com
619-251-8907
________________________________________
Mentor Program Overview & Fast Facts
• Mentoring is a commitment from October to May. The focus will be goal setting and career preparation.
• Meetings between mentor and student are structured around a 1½-hour agenda provided by the Engineering & Design Academy (EDA).
• Mentors will be provided with handbooks describing the mentor program, mentoring techniques and guidelines, and detailed agendas and activities for each mentor meeting.
• Participating students are juniors from Patrick Henry High School’s Engineering and Design Academy.
• Mentor-student meetings are once per month (usually on the second Thursday of each month).
• Meetings are held at Patrick Henry High School (PHHS) and will be scheduled for the late morning.
• In order to participate, interested mentors may contact the PHHS EDA Mentor Coordinator (619-251-8907) to start the application process.
• All mentors must attend one of two scheduled mentor orientations: either Tuesday Sep. 25 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM or Thursday Sep. 27 from 3:30 – 5:00 PM.
Mentor Responsibilities
• Most importantly: commit to attending all scheduled meetings
• Be on time to meetings and notify the Mentor Coordinator if there is a sudden conflict
• Be positive
• Share with student(s) about your career, successes, lessons learned, etc.
• Listen to student(s) with an open mind
• Respond to e-mail correspondences and phone calls in a timely manner
• Notify the Mentor Coordinator if a student needs additional guidance or discipline
• Be a resource to student(s) when they need career advice or business contacts
Mentor Program Overview of Meetings:
» Meeting 1: 10:30 AM, October 11, Intro, Self-Esteem, Goals: 1 ½ hours
At the first meeting, mentors will meet their students, then complete a mentor-student self-esteem activity.
» Meeting 2: 10:30 AM, November 8, Academic Goal-Setting: 1 ½ hours
Mentors will do a goal-setting activity with their students to help them establish measurable academic and personal goals.
» Meeting 3: 10:30 AM, January 10, Interview: 1 ½ hours – 2 hours
Students will formally interview and write an article about their mentor’s life “roadmap”: the path mentor took to get to their current career field. Mentors are invited to remain after the meeting to debrief and problem-solve with other mentors & the coordinators.
» Meeting 4: February (date TBD), Job Shadow Fieldtrip Day:
Mentor and students will arrange a day for students to take a 1 – 2 hour fieldtrip and shadow their mentor around their worksite. Students will also interview their mentor about their company and position.
» Meeting 5: 10:30 AM, March 14, Resumes & Interview Practice: 1 ½ hours
Mentors will go over students’ resumes and give them tips for conducting a great job interview.
» Meeting 6: 10:30 AM, April 11, Future Plans: 1 ½ – 2 hours
Mentors will guide students through a “Future Plan” template that will promote discussion of the student’s plans for summer, senior year, & college. Mentors and students will eat lunch together and assess yearly progress, exchange certificates, and say good-bye.