West Shore Connect looking for student mentors
Program needs Central Penn student to assist with its mission
By Bret Saveleski
Knightly News Reporter
bret.saveleski@mymail.centralpenn.edu
West Shore Connect and Central Penn College are seeking student mentors to assist individuals enrolled in the program due to their continued growth.
The program is a partnership between the West Shore School District and Central Penn College that works with students with disabilities. Its goal is to promote independence in everyday activities and allow students to network and establish relationships. Positions would begin in the fall term.
In addition to classwork, students in the West Shore Connect program can obtain student worker positions, receive transition assistance from the college’s career services team, and participate in any activities that are available to Central Penn students in Summerdale.
The partnership began in 2021 and has seen around a dozen students utilize it. To ensure its future success, West Shore Connect needs mentors to assist the students who participate.
The responsibilities of mentors include helping students with homework, assisting them with going to class, helping them keep their suite on campus clean, taking them to on-campus and off-campus activities and providing them a strong role model to look up to.
The program has many benefits for mentors. Not only does it offer a flexible schedule, but it also provides a meaningful experience to put on a resume while giving students the opportunity to give back to the college and community.
“West Shore Connect offers our students here at Central Penn College a chance to work with individuals with a wide variety of abilities but, more importantly, allows students from the West Shore School District a chance to make lifelong friendships with peers their own age,” said Paul Miller, assistant professor of media studies, about the partnership.
West Shore Connect does not fall under work study, so students already working through the college would not have their hours affected should they also choose to be mentors.
Students interested in becoming a mentor can contact Shari Brenizer at sharibrenizer@centralpenn.edu.
