Almost from the school's inception, an essential element of students' education at CAMS has been a mentoring program. Mentoring is a rewarding way for professionals to share their talents and experiences with young people in order to help them succeed in
high school.
The CAMS Mentor Program has been designed to help students improve their academic achievement, increase their self-esteem and
gain knowledge about careers and career opportunities through interaction with successful, caring professionals. Successful
mentoring should help CAMS student-protégés to:
- Discover and build upon their strengths and skills
- Increase their knowledge and understanding of colleges and career fields
- Improve their abilities to set and achieve life goals
- Recognize the link between education and the world of work.
CAMS mentor program mission statement
The mission of the CAMS mentor program is to nurture the social, educational and personal development of our students by
providing each with a successful, caring mentor.
What is a mentor?
A mentor is a professional who can listen, be a friend, act as a role model, provide career information, help develop projects, and, if necessary, tutor the protégé throughout his or her high school experience. A mentor is not an ATM machine, a foster
parent, a counselor or a peer.
What is a protégé?
A protégé is a student who understands that there is a great deal to be gained through interaction with a professional and who
makes a commitment to communicate regularly with his or her mentor. A protégé should have a goal for the mentoring relationship that provides direction for information sharing and activities that meet his or her needs (e.g., assistance with the college
selection process, learning about the professional work environment, learning about career fields).
Who can be a CAMS mentor?
Although CAMS has a math/science focus, CAMS mentors do not have to have special expertise in engineering, technology, math,
science or medicine. Because many of our students will be the first members of their families to pursue a higher education,
often their primary need is for role models who have successfully completed college. As a result, the most important qualities
for a CAMS mentor to have are a college degree and the desire and ability to help a young person.
Mentor program governance
Overseeing the CAMS Mentor Program is the Mentor Support Association (MSA), a group of particularly dedicated professionals who volunteer extra time to enhance and extend the program. Key MSA activities include coordinating mentor/protégé activities
(including orientation and training), reviewing mentor resource materials, assisting with special events, refining recruitment
and matching goals, providing support to new mentors and in general ensuring that mentors and proteges develop successful
relationships. In general, MSA members meet once a month.
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