MOORHEAD – Last year, there were only 11 mentors as part of the First Gen Connect Mentorship Program. This year, between both the mentors and mentees, 44 individuals are involved.
First Gen Connect is a program that, paired with Mentorship Opportunities for People of Color (MOPOC), helps support students from underprivileged backgrounds in a college setting. In addition to supporting first-generation students (students whose parents or guardians did not complete a four-year college degree), this includes minorities, those with low income or those from rural areas. It connects high school students from the surrounding Fargo-Moorhead area with current students at Concordia College, and current Concordia students with other more experienced students.
The students become mentor and mentee, providing resources and guidance they might otherwise not have access to.
These pairs met for the first time on Tuesday. While not all mentors could attend due to class or other commitments, the room was still packed, with an expected 40 in attendance.
“I previously had two mentors. They were all very helpful to me and I am where I am thanks to them,” said mentor Anjali Bhujel. “I just want to be that kind of influence in someone else’s life.”
While the current program has grown significantly, this is only its third year at Concordia.
“The way that we’re seeing the growth of these two programs, we really want to make sure that they stay at Concordia and that they continue growing throughout the next couple years,” said Assistant Director for the Center for Student Success, Sunet Rubalcava.
Partnered with the Center for Student Success and the Center for Holistic Health on campus, mentors go through extensive training to ensure they know how to connect mentees with applicable resources, plus how to connect with the mentees themselves and the struggles they might face. The training will continue through Oct.10 and surround various student development and identity theories. Mentees are also welcome to attend.
Creating a space for first-generation students is something that has been attempted at Concordia before, with varying success. This year, however, the First Gen Connect program is not the only one targeted at supporting first-generation students. First-Gen Study Hall is a resource available to Concordia students who are the first of their families to attend college as well. As part of the program, they hold occasional study sessions in the Center for Student Success.
