By Megan Wadin

Reflecting on 2017, the Illinois Tech Global Leaders Program (GLP) is celebrating a strong year of leadership development, academic enrichment and professional mentorship. GLP Scholars across the Chicago area were supported through the college application process, attended Job Shadow events, and served their communities through ‘Community Innovation Projects’. This month, the program has been recognized by MENTOR Illinois for its Community Innovation Project’s mentorship model. 

The Gold Star Mentoring Program Award is part of MENTOR Illinois’ commitment to high quality mentoring. Following a comprehensive evaluation, Mentor Illinois recognize those Illinois-based mentoring programs meeting or exceeding best practices across six program areas, as established by MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, in cooperation with the nation’s foremost authorities on mentoring.

The Program’s Community Innovation (CI) Project mentorship program matches small teams of GLP Scholars, Chicago-area high school students, with adult professional and undergraduate student Project Mentors. Project Mentors support GLP Scholars as they move through the design thinking process and work to implement solutions to social problems in their community.

GLP’s mentors have demonstrated their dedication to the success of scholars and have provided invaluable guidance in the last year. The Gold Star Mentoring Program Award reflects the strength of the GLP mentoring program and its unique support of scholars throughout the high school experience.

For current Chicago-area sophomores interested in the Global Leaders Program, the application to become a scholar is now LIVE. In addition to the CI Project Mentorship, Scholars spend their time at GLP developing leadership skills, learning about STEM pathways, and receive extensive support through the college admission and financial aid process.

To share the opportunity of GLP with more Chicago-area high school students, educators and community members are all encouraged to nominate one or more students that they feel would be a strong fit for the program. To nominate a student, please complete this form, and your nominees will receive a personalized invitation to apply.

Interested in getting involved or learning more? Reach out to Megan, GLP’s Community Development Specialist and an Americorps VISTA, at globalleaders {at} iit(.)edu.