REACH Mentorship Kick-Off Event

By: Sydney Halsey

Salem Scholars anxiously filtered in through the doors of the Student Center to the meeting rooms. Upon arrival, each student frantically searched for their nametag, then walked with haste to their assigned seat at the first REACH Mentorship Kick-Off Event at Salem College, which began during fall 2023. Similarly, mentors navigated across the historically beautiful campus in search of the Student Center – a building most had never visited before. This nervousness could be interpreted as excitement, as both students and mentors sat side by side, beginning introductions. Many students asked themselves questions: What will my mentor be like? Will I be good enough? Will I make a good impression? Across the table, mentors were asking themselves similar questions: How can I best support this student? What will they hope to learn from me? Those initial moments of nervousness soon sparked curiosity as the room began to fill with a loud buzz of conversation. Each pair began embarking on their mentorship journey through thoughtfully prompted questions and naturally occurring ones. The pairs shared stories and goals that built a foundation for professional and relational growth through the program’s course.  

Two years later, this program remains strong. On Sept. 7, Julia Townsend, co-president of the REACH Women’s Network, spoke to second-year Salem Scholars in the mentoring program. She shared how the program has grown and how far the initiative has developed over the past two years. The program started in fall 2023 with only 17 students and 20 mentors; it has grown into a partnership that connects leaders across Winston-Salem and the surrounding areas. The second-year Salem Scholars are eager to grow, gain support, and discuss their future aspirations. This year, the program added a student and mentor experience program in addition to the yearly REACH Mentorship Kickoff Event. This panel was led by REACH’s Megan Hoyt, Executive Director, who interviewed Salem College juniors Adley Keim and Sydney Halsey and Adley’s former mentor, Kathy Hayden. The main goals of the panel, as stated by Hoyt, are to “reduce mentor and mentee anxiety associated with the program and create a sense of excitement” (Hoyt 2025).

Mentors and mentees are required to meet outside of formal group sessions at least three times and attend the four formal sessions, which include September’s REACH Mentorship Kickoff Workshop with Allison McWilliams (Wake Forest University), which defines mentor/mentee goals and encourages additional meetings between sessions; October’s VIA Strengths Assessment led by Charlotte Vail, which helps students identify strengths for their career and life outlook; and November’s Speed Networking event with all mentors, teaches practical networking skills, and creates additional mentor connections. This is considered the formal program close.