eMentors

BestPrep's innovative eMentors program creates a unique learning experience for students, business volunteers, and teachers. The program matches students with business professional volunteer eMentors to correspond through weekly emails. Students and mentors are given weekly topics and guiding question prompts as a framework for their communication. Questions are designed to match the learning objectives of specific subject areas including financial literacy, math, science, business, marketing, and workplace skills. A fun and interactive meet-and-greet session during the program provides students a chance to meet with their mentor face-to-face at the volunteers’ workplace. Schools, students and teachers from across the state of Minnesota are eligible to participate in eMentors. It is a free program to the schools and teachers. This concept offers volunteers an opportunity to reach out to youth without leaving the office. eMentors was piloted during the 2003-2004 school year. During that time we matched 62 students. Each year, the program has grown by more than 20%. During the 2010-2011 school year, 3,163 students from 53 schools were matched with mentors. Funding support for eMentors will help BestPrep continue to grow the program to reach 3,500 students this year.