Events celebrate impact of mentors at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û
Article By: Agnes Hina
During the month of January, the University of North Georgia's (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û) Gen 1 Mentoring Program is celebrating mentoring. The program, which connects first-generation college students with a Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û faculty or staff mentor, is hosting events throughout the month to raise awareness of mentoring in its various forms and recruit new mentors.
Jennifer Herring, special assistant to the vice president of Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's Gainesville Campus, shared just how meaningful the month is as the students participating in the Gen 1 mentoring program are averaging a half-point higher GPAs than their first-generation college student peers.
"Celebrating National Mentoring Month allows us to increase our impact as mentoring advocates for our students and celebrate the power of relationships. It also allows us to highlight what a mentor is and the importance of having a mentor for our first-generation students," Herring said.
Mentoring has been very rewarding for me. I have really enjoyed getting to know my mentee over the years, helping her navigate campus and her college career and seeing her grow.
Dr. Jeanelle Morgan
Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û biology professor and associate department head
On Jan. 11, Gen 1 kicked off the month on social media with "I am a Mentor Day," which highlighted mentors and what inspired them to mentor students. Some of those "whys" were captured and will be released in a video at the end of the month.
The Gen 1 Mentoring Program couldn't exist without the hard work of more than 60 faculty and staff serving as mentors to first-generation students on all Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û campuses. Hence, the university hosted a Mentor Appreciation Event on Jan. 23 on Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û’s Gainesville campus.The events will wrap on Jan. 26 with "Thank Your Mentor Day," a chance for mentees to be encouraged, receive thank you cards, and write a note of appreciation to their mentor to let them know how much they appreciate having them as a mentor. Mentees on the Gainesville Campus can drop their cards off with Herring in the Administration Building.
The Gen 1 Mentoring Program launched in fall 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of knowing the importance of first-generation students having mentors to help them be successful in college. Dr. Jeanelle Morgan, Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û biology professor and associate department head, has appreciated the connection with her mentee.
"As a first-generation college student myself, I wish I had this kind of program when I was in college. You don't know what you don't know," Morgan said. "Mentoring has been very rewarding for me. I have really enjoyed getting to know my mentee over the years, helping her navigate campus and her college career and seeing her grow. I am very proud of her and love celebrating her successes.”
Morgan mentors Daleana Reyes Alejo, a senior from Buford, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology.
"The Gen 1 Mentoring Program at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û has been a wonderful aspect of my college life. It has provided me with information as well as a personal connection with my mentor that I would have otherwise not had," Reyes Alejo said.
To sign up to be a mentor, visit the Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Gen 1 mentoring program webpage.
Annual event welcomes family and guests
Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û is set to welcome the families and guests of students during its annual Family Day event on Sept. 21.
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Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's education abroad program had students in Belize and Peru this summer providing language skills to further their career aspirations. 
Students explore career opportunities this fall
Six career fairs will allow Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û students to explore opportunities at events in Gainesville and Dahlonega.
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Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's Weeks of Welcome returns from Aug. 9-23 on all five campuses, offering incoming students a chance to connect and interact with their peers as they transition to college.