Mentors Helping RBR Grads Succeed at Brookdale

When opened its doors for the Fall 2011 semester, there were a handful of particularly special students setting foot on campus for the first time.

The newly minted BCC students (and recent graduates of ) represent the first in their families to attend college. And they're doing it with a little help from a variety of professional tutors from the working world.

, a youth advocate in Red Bank, organized the program and recruited volunteers from the area, holding monthly meetings at 's Recreation Building in Red Bank. Mentors Tom and JoAnn Redmond of Middletown joined St. Anthony’s Social Concern’s group when they found themselves with some time and desire to perform volunteer work.  “We were working in the food pantry one day and saw a flyer about the program," said JoAnn.  "We then met David, and well, you just don’t say no to David.”

The program pairs Hispanic students preparing to attend Brookdale with volunteers who work towards helping the students get through the program at BCC and graduate.  The program currently includes 12 students and 22 mentors.

“Neither of my parents went to college. Having someone you can talk to who went through the process helps a lot,” said Itzel Perez, a first-year student at BCC currently being mentored by the Redmonds.  “I am also so really appreciative that our mentors take time out of their lives to help someone else. That means a lot to me.”

The program, which was started three years ago, recently saw its first measurable success.  Andres Perez became the first mentee to graduate from Brookdale, and is continuing his education at Rutgers in Newark at the university's business school. Coni Lefferts, President of Creative Packaging Solutions, served as Andres' mentor throughout his time at Brookdale and continues to mentor him now as a Rutgers student.  “We are so proud of Andres,” Lefferts said at a recent meeting.  “He is such a motivated student and is absolutely determined to obtain his bachelors degree.”

At a late August meeting prior to Brookdale’s opening day, Prown sought to motivate the students, stating, “Brookdale is the number one community college in the state and the ninth best in the country. You want that sheepskin.”  The meeting served as a preparation for the fall semester, with mentors helping students get through the initial phases of starting a new school - obtaining IDs, signing up with the school's online services, familiarizing new students with the various health and community services offered by the school, and so on. Most importantly, Prown stressed, “You must communicate with your mentors. They have had the college experience and are there to help you through it.”

The students sign a contract with Red Bank Regional High School, promising to meet the criteria specified to keep their scholarship from year to year, including a minimum grade point average, number of college credits taken per semester, attendance at the monthly mentor meetings, and so on.  In addition to the monthly meetings, mentors try to meet weekly with their students, and are often available to communicate by phone, texting and by email.

It's not just classes and homework that the program and mentors stress, though.  “There are over 40 clubs and sports in Brookdale. Join them," said Prown during the August meeting.  "Don’t be a drone and just go to classes. Get the whole college experience.”

Arturo Valera, a student in the program who expects to graduate from Brookdale this year, took Prown's advice and now hosts a weekly Spanish-language radio show on the Brookdale campus.  His mentor, Linda Ensor, a English teacher and Brookdale adjunct professor, noted, “Arturo was initially shy and perhaps felt out of his element, but he really opened up with the radio show. He found his niche and it opened the whole experience for him. He has quite a group of friends now.”

If you are interested in becoming a mentor with the Red Bank mentorship program as it continues to expand, contact David Prown at 908-902-2203; or via e-mail at david@prowns.com.