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The mentor has an extremely important role in our program.  The mentor partners with the student’s family and the Foundation to encourage success and provide support for the duration the student is involved in the program, which is typically seven years.  The mentor’s responsibility is to establish and maintain a relationship with their student with a primary emphasis on his or her academic performance and personal development.

 

Mentors share these common traits. . . .

• Ability to readily see potential in a person.
• Tolerance with mistakes, brashness, abrasiveness and the like in order to see that potential develop.
• Flexibility in responding to people and circumstances.
• Patience, knowing that time and experience are needed for development.
• Perspective, having vision and ability to see down the road and suggest the next steps that a mentee needs.
• Gifts and abilities that build up and encourage others.

 

The Role of a Mentor

Form a Supportive, Open Relationship with the Student

• Establish trust.
• Don't rush; allow the relationship time to grow naturally.
• Take interest in their lives; appreciate the things in which they take pride (i.e. their room, their yard, a drawing)
• Be sensitive to differences in cultures and lifestyles.
• Be the student's advocate; provide support and encouragement.
• Ensure their comfort. This may mean taking some new experiences slowly.
• Remember that for many students, leaving their neighborhoods and venturing into the suburbs or mountains may be a brand new experience in itself!
• Remember that children often enjoy the simplest things (i.e. nature, animals, books, shooting hoops, ice cream, drawing, a movie) and don't try to impress them with the "good life."
• Please don't buy expensive gifts. If an unusual circumstance arises, contact the Challenge Foundation for discussion.
• Do remember the student's birthday. Great gifts include books, appropriate CDs and time spent with you.

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Work as a Team to Establish Communicative, Trusting Relationships

• Establish trust with the family (parents, guardians, siblings).
• Show respect - of boundaries, rules, beliefs, values, neighborhoods, heritage.
• Take interest in their lives; appreciate the things in which they take pride.
• Be sensitive to differences in cultures and lifestyles.
• Be careful not to intimidate (experiences, wealth, job).
• Children want to feel proud of their families; nurture situations in which the family "shines"; notice strengths of the family and show interest when your student is proud.
• Get permission and communicate thoroughly about time spent with student. . .and keep your word! (i.e. time to pick up and bring home, where you are going).

 

Expand the Student's World and Stimulate Imagination

• Experiences: bookstores, good movies, IMAX, hiking, a picnic lunch, historic Denver, community service
• Fun activities: rollerblading, tennis, feeding the ducks at City Park, painting pottery, making photo albums and scrapbooks, frisbee, basketball, Rapids & Rockies, theater, day trip to the mountains
• Conversations: high school, college, friendships, opposite sex, encourage activities (i.e. sports, clubs, community service!)

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Participate in Challenge Foundation Trainings

Quarterly mentor trainings will be held. Mentors are required to attend two trainings a year and we ask that they participate in two FUN group activities with their student. Monthly mentor/mentee activities will be planned by the Challenge Foundation. These are not required, but strongly encouraged. This gives the students and mentors a great opportunity to come together as a community and have fun.

 

Support the Student's Academic Life

• Students must maintain a 2.5 grade point average to sustain the scholarship. Academic success is an extremely important component of the program.
• Discuss progress reports and grades and attend all conferences.
• Inquire about homework and tests. If you feel your student needs more assistance than he or she is getting, please contact the Foundation. We provide tutors and the mentor is welcome to help with schoolwork if he or she desires.
• Communicate with parents, teachers, the Foundation about your student's academic progress.

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Serve as a Role Model

• Think in aspects of what you discuss and where you go.
• Be cognizant of what you share about your personal life.
• You can be a powerful role model not only in areas of academics and career, but also in friendships and family.

 

Incorporate the Student into Your Life!

We encourage mentors to see their students as frequently as possible. The Challenge Foundation requires that you see your student twice a month and that you speak to your student on the phone once a week.

Note: If a student confides something and the mentor believes the student has been harmed, is at risk of being harmed or is in danger of any kind, tell the student that you must confide in a professional. Call the Challenge Foundation immediately.

 

Interested Mentors

We are seeking approximately nine qualified mentors each year to form a trusting, caring relationship with our students. Mentors partner with the family & the foundation to encourage success & provide support. Mentors expand the student's world by promoting academics & personal development. All potential mentors must first complete an application and then participate in an intensive interview. Additionally all potential mentors must pass a background check before they can be approved as a mentor.

 

Apply to be a Challenge Foundation Mentor

Download the application below and fill it out and mail it to The Challenge Foundation, or hand it to anyone you know in The Challenge Foundation.

• Mentor Application

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Please mail, fax, or email the application to:
The Challenge Foundation
4545 S. University Blvd.
Englewood, CO 80110
Fax: 303-783-6201