The Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy screens and trains an adult mentor for each cadet. Mentors and cadets are matched during the residental phase. This mentor volunteers to give support to one cadet for at least 12 months following graduation. Mentors provide the support and guidance necessary to keep their graduate on track and focused on the path to success.

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring involves a one-on-one relationship between a youth and an adult, over a prolonged period of time, providing consistent support and guidance. This responsibility is increasingly important, especially when the youth goes through a difficult and challenging situation or period in life.

The goal of the mentor is to aid the Cadet in attaining, as well as maintaining, the skills and confidence needed to become a resposible adult. This will culminate in the youth`s desire and ability to succeed in education and employment oppurtunities.

Mentoring is also community-building on the part of the mentor. You are entrusted with molding of a young person into contributing and productive members of society. It is the process of sharing your personal knowledge, experience and skills with less experienced youth. It is easy to see how being a mentor requires believing in, and caring about young people.

Mentor, accoding to the American Heritage Dictionary, means " a wise and trusted counselor or teacher" and has Greek root meaning of "steadfast and enduring." The Greek poet Homer first coined the word "mentor" in his epic poem, The Odyssey. A great warrior, Odysseus, knowing he was to be away from his home for many years on a journey, chose a man named Mentor to be the guardian and tutor of his son. The Youth ChalleNGe Mentor is to inspire the Cadet to think, act and develop his/her potential through praise, motivation, correction and listening. The mentor encourages the Cadet to utilize his/her personal strengths, to accept challenges and pursue dreams.

1. Must be the same gender as the potential cadet.
2. Must be at least 21 years old (if not a relative of the cadet).
3. May be an aunt or uncle (depending on the gender of the applicant)- at least 30 years old or older.
4. May not have had a close personal relationship (engaged, lived together for years etc. with one of the potential cadets parents.)

Click here to download a mentor application  (Word document)