Outstanding OSU mentors honored during National Mentor Month

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Eight mentors with ties to Oklahoma State University were recognized by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence during National Mentor Month in January.

The eight, along with 23 others from across Oklahoma, were nominated by their organizations, and each received certificates of achievement.

“We salute these outstanding mentors for the important role they play in helping young people achieve better academic, social and economic futures,” said Emily Stratton, executive director of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. “Oklahoma mentors are truly changing lives.”

The statewide nonprofit recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. It promotes the growth and development of youth mentoring programs, working with school districts and mentoring organizations to promote mentoring for academic success.

“Through a statewide survey of mentoring organizations, we found that the most positive program outcomes were improved academic performance, positive mentor-mentee relationships, improved behavior, increased self-esteem and greater enrichment opportunities for participating youth,” Stratton said. “Mentoring also helps students develop resilience and feel supported as they face difficult life challenges.”

“Mentor in Real Life” is the theme of National Mentoring Month, a campaign sponsored by the National Mentoring Partnership to celebrate the power of mentoring relationships and recruit new volunteer mentors.

The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence provides a statewide directory of mentoring organizations seeking volunteers. For more information and a list of this year’s honored mentors, visit www.okmentors.org.

The eight honorees from OSU and their organizations include:

• Fiona Byrd, biosystems engineering junior at OSU, Women Inspiring Successful Engineers (WISE) in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology.
• Aaron Corona, mechanical engineering junior, CEAT’s Summer Bridge Program.
• William Crawford, architecture senior, CEAT’s Architecture Coaching Program.
• Cardin Hart, a recent chemical engineering graduate, CEAT’s Chemical Engineering Student Mentor Program.
• Lamar Lawson, electrical engineering senior,Inspiring Successful Engineers.
• Jennifer Litchfield, mechanical and aerospace engineering junior, CEAT Student Council Big-Little Program.
• Rebecca Powers, chemical engineering senior, Parker Engineering, Architecture and Technology Experts (PEATE).
• Caleb Smith, biochemistry and molecular biology senior, LASSO Center Tutoring Program.

Media contact: Mack Burke | Editorial Coordinator | 405.744.5540 | mack.burke_iv@okstate.edu