UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — FastStart, a mentorship program supported by the Penn State Alumni Association, is now accepting applications for faculty/staff and alumni mentors for the 2024-25 academic year.
FastStart was formed in 1996 to enrich the student experience of Penn State first-year students who identify with underrepresented populations. Since its inception, FastStart has supported Penn State students' matriculation, persistence, academic achievement and professional development.
First-year students (mentees) are matched with a Penn State faculty/staff member and alumni (mentors). Advice from the mentors can support mentees to flourish in their new university environment and get their college career off to a “FastStart.”
Mentors and mentees will be matched based on a survey conducted through the LionLink platform. Please note that mentors will be required to attend two training sessions provided by the Penn State Alumni Association. Topics will include mentorship and safeguarding.
Being a mentor can be rewarding, allowing you to positively impact the Penn State community while growing personally and professionally. It’s an opportunity to give back to Penn State by supporting student success.
“Mentoring was such a great experience,” said Daphne Mark, coordinator of Student & Young Alumni Programming, who served as a mentor for the first time in the 2023-24 program year. “I was matched with a biochemistry and molecular biology student who wanted to work on his networking skills and needed assistance with research opportunities. We met in person monthly, and I was able to provide him with many options to explore. He took advantage of them all, listened well, and had such a positive attitude.”
In fact, Mark’s mentee received the Sam Family FastStart Student Award for his hard work and dedication to the program.
“I could not have been prouder,” Mark said. “We both gained valuable experience from this program, and I’m looking forward to being a mentor again.”
Sign up to become a mentor here. For questions, reach out Marc Tuffy, FastStart program director, at mvt5750@psu.edu.