Category Archives: Category: Mentor News

Not Enough Students Have Mentors – That Needs to Change

| May 17, 2020
Student walking to school

“Too many young people are left in the lurch, wandering aimlessly in a professional wilderness. No one succeeds on their own. The myth of individual exceptionalism, that truly motivated people can pull themselves up by their boot straps, obscures how people really get ahead — with the assistance of others.”

A mentor provides both guidance and help for socio-economically and academically challenged high school students. The Shepherds program has a 20+ year track record of success. 95% of our students graduate compared their inner-city peers rate of 55-65%. Last year 100% of our students went on to college.

While Shepherds provides the opportunity for a college preparatory education, a mentor works hand in hand to provide the guidance for success.

Shepherds is recruiting mentors for the freshman entering our program this fall. Join us in making an impact on a young person’s life by becoming a mentor! Contact Dan McAuliffe at info@shepherdsmentors.org or call 203-367-4273.

NDWH Alumnus Greg Dillon is a Long-Time Mentor

| May 11, 2020
Longtime student mentor

Greg has been mentoring students from Notre Dame West Haven in the Shepherds program for over a decade. “It is very satisfying to provide guidance to a young person and see him grow and develop into a young man.” A NDWH graduate himself, he values the education of the hearts and minds the high school provides. When paired with a caring Shepherds mentor, the possibilities are endless for the students.

Mentoring a high school student can change a life. You can too! Shepherds is recruiting mentors for the class of 2024 beginning this fall. By becoming a mentor, you are doing your part to ensure that today’s students have the tools and support they need to succeed. Join us today by contacting Executive Director Dan McAuliffe at info@shepherdsmentors.org or call 203-367-4273.

 

Shepherds Seniors Zoom into Their Future

| May 7, 2020
Universities

Shepherds’ seniors at our partner schools, Notre Dame West Haven and Kolbe Cathedral, are in the midst of making their college selection for the fall. Unlike previous years, COVID-19 is making in-person guidance counseling and mentoring very challenging for students and their guidance counselors. Analyzing academic goals, financial aid packages and potential transportation issues is a daunting task for many of our first-generation students. We are happy to report that they are rising to the challenge!

Their hard work and dedication in school is having an enormous impact in the options they have for college. The Shepherds program along with our partner schools, provide an education that has an impact that lasts long after our students graduate high school. We will announce their final selections in June and hope to find a way to to honor their accomplishments in person this summer.

Shepherds is recruiting mentors for the class of 2024. Be a part of the next group of Shepherds students’ success by applying to be a mentor today! To find out more, contact Dan McAuliffe at info@shepherdsmentors.org or call 203-367-4273

Shepherds Celebrates Mentors at NDWH

| February 4, 2020

Shepherds enjoyed hearing from a student alumnus at Shepherds Notre Dame Mentor Appreciation Night. Notre Dame West Haven ’14 alum, Jeenn Barreiro embraced the lessons he learned during his time as a Shepherds student at NDWHS.

After high school, he continued his education at College of the Holy Cross, graduating in 2018. Jeenn currently works at Brigham and Women’s Hospital as a researcher and plans on attending graduate school in the fall.

While his academic and work successes make Shepherds proud, his impact on his community in Boston brings the lessons learned at Shepherds and NDWH full-circle. At our Mentor Appreciation Night, he spoke about how he is now a mentor himself. Jeenn mentoring and coaching a soccer team of refugees, undocumented and socio-economically challenged youths.

National Mentoring Month

| January 25, 2020

January is National Mentoring Month and Shepherds is so thankful for all the mentors that assist our students.

Our mentors are kind-hearted adults who help bridge the opportunity gap our inner-city students have. A good mentor allows students to see the hope and possibilities within themselves. Becoming a Shepherds is a satisfying way to make a positive impact on a young person in your own backyard.

As the Chronicle of Evidence Based Mentoring states, mentoring is an opportunity not only for the student, but for the mentor as well.

To find out more about becoming a mentor at Shepherds, contact Executive Director Dan McAuliffe at info@shepherds.com or www.shepherdsmentors.org

Four Ways Mentoring Benefits the Mentor

Shepherds Fall 2020 Mentor/Sponsor Recruiting Season is Now OPEN

| January 20, 2020

There are few things more rewarding than helping change the course of a young person’s life. As a Shepherds Mentor you commit to sharing your time and experience with a student whose life you will certainly positively impact throughout their four-years of high school. As a Shepherds Sponsor, you help financially support our efforts in Bridgeport and New Haven.

As our partner schools have started accepting applications for their fall 2020 freshmen classes, Shepherds needs to build our pool of potential mentors and sponsors for the students we bring into the Shepherds program next fall.

The following form is a way for us to gauge interest and gather information about our potential new mentors. Please complete the this form to begin the process of changing a student’s life. Full application will be sent out in January 2020.

Shepherds Mentors Form

Kolbe Elves Deck The Halls for New Canaan Christmas Tree Sales

| December 24, 2018

Kolbe Cathedral students perform community service throughout their four years of high school. Recently, a group of students and mentors volunteered at the Exchange Club of New Canaan Annual Christmas Tree Sale. For more than 50 years, the club transforms Kiwanis Park into a Christmas village with more than 1,300 trees along with a variety of wreaths, roping, tree stands and other seasonal merchandise. Funds raised at the event primarily support programs for the prevention of child abuse.

Pictured are Shepherds mentor, Joe Purcell with student, Martin V. Also participating were Kolbe students Jannelle, Nayshawn and Jerome who attended with mentors Linda Theriault, Tim Dwyer and Wayne Theriault.

SHEPHERDS TO HONOR TWO OUTSTANDING MENTORS WITH FOUNDERS AWARD AT WESTPORT GALA ON OCTOBER 11TH

| September 26, 2018

2018 Honoree Tammy Taylor (center) with husband Lou, a Shepherds Board Member and their children Elise, Brigette and Jack


Darien’s Tammy Taylor has been a mentor since 2002. She was introduced to Shepherds shortly after 9/11 and was inspired to try and do something good in her own backyard. Since then, she has been proud to see Curtia, Chinkini & Ugonna graduate from high school and move on to college. A valued board member since 2012, Ms. Taylor has served as Chair of the Mentoring Committee overseeing all mentoring activities including recruitment, training and support.

North Haven’s Greg Dillon, a Notre Dame West Haven alum and former police officer, will join the Shepherds Board of Directors this year. Mentoring his 8th student, Jared a rising senior, Greg has seen the impact that the program has had on many young men and their families. All prior seven of the students Greg has mentored have graduated from high school and moved on to college. Greg still keeps in touch with them and says, “There is tremendous satisfaction in seeing a boy enter NDHS, full of doubt and indecision, maybe lacking confidence or unsure of their goals, and leaving NDHS as a mature, poised young man, brimming with potential, with a plan and a bright future.”

Mentors, Students and Families Attend Mentor Appreciation Night at NDWH

| January 29, 2018

January, National Mentor Appreciation Month, is coming to a close. Mentors, students and family members along with NDWH staff, gathered on January 24th in the Maureen and George J. Collins ’58 Auditorium at Notre Dame High School to celebrate the role of mentors in students’ lives. Phoebe Greenfield, mother of NDWH Senior Reuben Clarke, addressed the crowd and talked about the importance of her own Catholic education in her native Liberia and the value she places on Reuben’s education at Notre Dame. A heartfelt thanks to all of our students and mentors and those that came to support them. Thanks also to photographer Gabrielle Bridgewood Watson who volunteered to take photos. Visit us on Facebook @shepherdsmentors to see additional pictures from the evening.