CSN kicks off recruiting & training campaign to help meet a greater-than-ever need for mentors
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1, 2017 – The Nevada Promise Scholarship is a hit with southern Nevada’s high school seniors. Now it’s time for community members to come together and help the students through college by becoming mentors.
CSN received 9,157 applications from Nevada high school students for the scholarship, a new, state-funded program that will pay all mandatory tuition and fees for those who qualify once other forms of financial aid are exhausted. Students who receive the scholarship must meet several requirements, including performing community service and meeting with a mentor. In all, students from 105 high schools across the state applied.
“We are thrilled that so many of today’s high school seniors are prepared to become tomorrow’s CSN students,” said CSN President Michael Richards. “The Nevada Promise scholarship program is a game-changer for Nevada’s students. Not only is a college education now more affordable than ever for the state’s underrepresented students, we know that the mentoring component, in particular, will help successfully guide them through their academic and professional careers. What we need now are members of our community to step up and help mentor these students.”
College officials estimate more than 1,500 mentors will be needed by Dec. 31 for the thousands of students who are expected to receive the scholarship. The college will kick off a new mentor recruiting campaign with two events this week and several more throughout November and December.
At 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, CSN President Michael Richards, Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Thom Reilly, and other higher education officials will encourage the business community to help recruit mentors at a CSN Foundation-sponsored community engagement summit. The event – the CSN 2021 Challenge – will take place at the Springs Preserve in the Upper Level Conference Rooms, Desert Living Center.
Then at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, CSN will host its first in-person mentor training session in the Horn Theatre on the college’s North Las Vegas Campus. Anyone interested in becoming a mentor is invited to attend. Those who wish to complete the mentor application before attending the event may visit www.csn.edu/mentor-application.