Winston-Salem State University Promotes National Mentoring Month
Posted: 01-22-2008 : WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
By presidential proclamation, January 2008 has been designated as National Mentoring Month. And Winston-Salem State University proudly salutes all the mentors and mentoring organizations that continue to positively impact lives. In education, business, politics and volunteerism, mentoring has successfully produced many of the world’s greatest minds and achievers; and everyone has heard someone’s story of how a former teacher, guidance counselor, employer, friend, or parent was not only a guiding role model and mentor, but also the driving force behind their success.
WSSU has fostered such an environment and is committed to supporting its surrounding community both on and off campus. The student-athletes have instituted a program call CHAMPS (CHallenging Athletes’ Minds for Personal Success). The program was implemented in NCAA institutions in 1994, and was created to improve and enhance the student-athlete experience within their selected communities. The program was founded at Winston-Salem State University in 1998, and is strictly voluntary. “The purpose of CHAMPS/Life Skills is to prepare student-athletes for their life after athletics,” said Tonia Walker, WSSU’s CHAMPS/Life Skills Director. “The student-athletes help to mentor youth in the community, thereby strengthening not only their bond with the community but the community’s bond with the students and athletes of WSSU.” This kind of mentoring is seen throughout our nation and on every level: from blue-collar workers, to A-list Hollywood celebrities, to average college students on campuses across the country who need support or want to lend a helping hand to others.
At WSSU, mentoring is for everyone. The university provides mentoring services on campus to its students and offers opportunities for students to prepare to become mentors in the community. Oftentimes, even students who manage their academic responsibilities with little difficulty may occasionally find themselves in need of tutoring or other college life support services. WSSU’s overall mission is to provide the participants with these services, and in turn, the tools necessary to achieve academic and life skills success. The university offers a variety of tutorials, workshops, seminars and cultural/educational trips that promote EXcellence, instill Character, and Empower young scholars to become future Leaders (EXCEL). The EXCEL program encourages students to be proactive about their scholastic endeavors, and all services are offered free of charge. In addition to receiving help in strengthening areas where students may be challenged, students also have a quiet place to study, available staff to share ideas with, access to the university’s reference library and computer lab, counseling, tutoring, relevant workshops and seminars, and cultural/educational field trips. Also, being an active member of an organization looks great on the students’ resumes and graduate school applications and helps set them apart from the competition as they pursue various internship and job opportunities.
In his proclamation, President George W. Bush sums up the essence of being a mentor: “Millions of Americans lend their time, talent, and energy to become mentors and make a difference in children's lives. During National Mentoring Month, we honor these caring individuals for their dedication to changing our country one heart and soul at a time. By sharing their knowledge and experiences, mentors serve as examples for young people and help teach them the skills they need to succeed in life. They also provide stability, instill important values, and build confidence in those they assist. Mentors are soldiers in the armies of compassion, and they encourage children to set goals and achieve their dreams.”
Such is the substance of Winston-Salem State University’s mentoring programs. The university whole-heartedly believes in the social, academic, and economic success of not only its graduates, but every individual and family in its community. WSSU exists to enhance, enable, and edify the educational needs of its community and students, and to help everyone concerned to excel and achieve success. Why not mentor someone in your community today? Winston-Salem State University invites you to join the ranks of the millions of Americans who care and make a difference.
Eds. Note: This article can be published in full with the permission of Winston-Salem State University © January 2008.
About WSSU:
Winston-Salem State University, a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, is a public university founded in 1892 in Winston-Salem, NC. WSSU is a historically black university that today is a recognized regional institution offering baccalaureate and graduate programs to a diverse student population. U.S. News and World Report has ranked the university among Top Public Comprehensive Colleges in the South—Bachelor’s category—for seven consecutive years (2002-2008). WSSU currently offers more than 40 baccalaureate and seven master's degree programs to a student population of approximately 6,000.
About WSSU Academics:
"Winston-Salem State University is a premier, regional master's level institution that offers 43 undergraduate programs (42 academic majors, and one certificate program in computer science); and 10 graduate programs (seven master degree programs, two post-master certificate programs, and one add-on teaching licensure program)."
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