Guiding and nurturing students during their early developmental stages can be a profoundly positive and transformative journey. As part of our application process, we inquire whether our potential Ambassadors have a mentor. Those who do are asked to specify if their mentor operates within their desired field. Since 2022, we have 30 students enrolled in our program. Eighty percent of our students indicated they lacked a mentor before joining our program. Among the remaining 20% with mentors, 33.3% affirmed that their mentor aligned with their desired field. Notably, upon completing the Ambassador program (phase 1), all participants reported having secured a mentor.

Mentors play a pivotal role by imparting wisdom, offering emotional support, and facilitating access to valuable resources. Recognizing oneself as a prospective professional in the STEM domain is pivotal for maintaining interest and engagement within STEM disciplines. A significant portion of our students aspire to forge careers in STEM fields. To help cultivate their self-perception as upcoming STEM professionals, it is essential to immerse them in an environment enriched with committed STEM professionals who champion diversity, equity, and inclusion. These senior STEM mentors will nurture a sense of belonging among their mentees and provide expert knowledge in areas such as alcohol, substance use, or mental health.