From the Nominator

"In 2012, two VCU African American Alumni Council (AAAC) members sought to create an intergenerational program for the AAAC to support its missions of promoting and contributing to the recruitment and retention of African American students at VCU. In partnership with the VCU Office of Alumni Relations, the AAAC created the Mentoring Circle to provide students with the opportunity to seek guidance and support from African American alumni who have relatable shared experiences. 

The Mentoring Circle provides a platform to connect African American undergraduate students with alumni who are interested in helping African American students gain the skills needed to enter today’s workforce and provide them with an opportunity to learn from a VCU graduate. The Mentoring Circle's goal is to pair an alumni mentor with every African American student with a desire to participate in the program. 

Since the inception of the program, nearly 800 African American students have been paired with an alumni mentor. 

In summary, the Mentoring Circle supports African American VCU students and the university’s strategic plan while satisfying our alumni’s desire to stay connected to VCU. Very few alumni volunteer programs can check as many boxes as the Mentoring Circle. The program is set up to ensure long-term success through a defined committee structure, leadership roles, and strong commitment from the VCU Office of Alumni Relations. The program also serves as a model for other institutions seeking to establish mentoring programs."

From the Judges

This program utilizes alumni volunteers in a meaningful way while providing support to students continuing their education and applying what they learn to the workforce. The unique focus of an intergenerational program for "a population of students who are the most vulnerable to the challenges of higher education in an ever-changing environment," coupled with the alumni volunteer-driven aspect, produces outcomes that are highly impressive.