The Rotary Club of Boca Raton is growing a student mentorship program that pairs college students with working professionals, according to a column by club president-elect and mentorship chair Brian Sheehan, published by the Boca Raton Tribune.
The club, founded in 1957, has awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships, mainly to students at Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach State College. Sheehan said money alone does not always prepare students for the move from classroom to career, so the club added mentors in fields such as healthcare, finance, law, technology, engineering and entrepreneurship.
Volunteers advise students on career choices, internships, interviews, workplace expectations and networking. The program is open to students beyond Rotary scholarship recipients. In October, the outreach connected 29 students with 35 professionals, and some students met mentors in more than one field.
Sheehan said volunteers do not need formal training or Rotary membership. Some mentoring takes a single 20-minute phone call, while other relationships last longer. People interested in volunteering can contact Sheehan by email. The club meets Wednesdays at noon at Crazy Uncle Mike’s, 6450 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton.
