The Office of Engaged Scholarship & Learning hosted its second Thank-A-Mentor Campaign, an activity in which students are asked to post a picture of themselves and their mentors.
Daniel Warner, a marketing senior and marketing coordinator for the Office of Engaged Scholarship & Learning, said #thankamentor2017 was a way for students to show gratitude for mentors who have been helping them with their academic projects.
“It is a great time to do it, because it is around Thanksgiving, so it’s a time where people are showing gratitude,” Warner said. “[#thankamentor2017] is a great avenue for students to let their mentors know how they feel.”
The campaign lasted throughout November.
One student and her mentor were featured this year.
“What students do is talk about their relationship with their own mentor on their social media profile, and then we’ll share it if they allow us,” Warner said.
The thankful student was English senior Judith Ramirez, who said being a part of this campaign allowed her to thank her mentor.
“Being a part of the campaign is really important,” Ramirez said. “It’s a nice way to give verbal recognition to my mentor/professor. She deserves it.”
She said that when she was awarded the Engaged Scholar Award for Undergraduate Research in Spring 2016, it inspired her to continue her academic investigation.
“A lot of people when I tell them about [the Engaged Scholar Award] they say, ‘What? You’re doing research? But, you’re an undergrad,’” Ramirez said. “But, I tell them that there are opportunities. You just have to seek them out.”
Warner said the Office of Engaged Scholarship & Learning is willing to help students with their academic endeavors.
“What our office does is, for students who are doing projects outside of class for their own professional development, whatever field they’re in, we can give them funding for their project,” he said.
Ramirez’s mentor is Alyssa Cavazos, an assistant professor in the department of Writing and Language Studies.
“I’ve always had the dream of being a mentor,” Cavazos said. “I wanted to be inspirational to others. I wanted to inspire others. So, it’s significant that someone like [Ramirez] considers me a mentor. It provides me with motivation to keep doing what I’m doing.”
For additional information on Engaged Scholarship & Learning, call 665-3461 or 882-4300.
