After addressing an audience at the 2019 Winter Workshop graduation luncheon, Leticia Calvillo stopped for a photo with her mentor, Edwin Gow, who attended to celebrate her achievements before she returned to Brown University for her final semester of college.

Last fall, TGR Foundation welcomed 25 college freshmen to the Earl Woods Scholar Program. Each scholar is matched with a dedicated mentor who will support and guide them through their college years and beyond. The mentorship component of the program has proven to be both valuable and memorable for our students, particularly those that leave home for the first time.

The class of 2022 experienced their first winter workshop January 3-5, 2019 at the TGR Learning Lab. Throughout their visit they were able to connect with their peers while participating in various workshops and activities to prepare them for a successful freshman year.

A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers study confirms that 98% of millennials believe working with a mentor is a necessary component in development. Put simply, people rely on humans because they can interpret, synthesize, express and convey needed information better than technology or any Google search. Mentors share their experiences, and that makes the learning personal and therefore memorable.

Mentoring involves asking smart questions and listening. Mentors provide a thoughtful and candid storytelling of what they did, why they did it and what they learned. Equally important is the translation of that experience into language the scholars can readily understand and apply.

Luis Ortiz-Franco attended the annual Earl Woods Scholar graduation luncheon to catch up with his mentee, Luis Jimenez, before he returned to Stanford University for the spring semester. After enjoying a meal together, the two gathered for a photo.

For students who are the first in their families to go to college, a strong mentor can be the guiding force needed to ensure a successful experience. As a mentor, the habits, practices and beliefs that are shared help increase the odds that our scholars will be successful in their college and career journeys.

TGR Foundation mentors follow a long-standing tradition of serving 100% of our Earl Woods Scholars. This year each of our mentors across the nation will be providing sage advice, a listening ear and sometimes just a welcome and break from the rigors of higher education.

Earl Woods Scholar Karina Ramirez and her mentor, Rita Shaw reconnected over lunch after being paired in the summer of 2018.

To learn more about the Earl Woods Scholar Program or receive information about becoming a mentor, contact Lea Segura at [email protected].

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