This week, our high school kicked off the mentorship program with a record 22 new partners, thanks to connections made by our staff, students, and their families. Among our new partners, students are being mentored are Hawaii Marine Solutions, Kapena School of Music, puppy training company Balanced Obedience, Golden Dermatology, and architectural/engineering firm Bowers and Kubota. With these additions, we now have over 420 mentorship sites.
Every Wednesday, all grades 9 through 12 students can explore various career paths, from arts to sciences, business to technology, thanks to the leadership of our Dean of Student Life and Mentorship Coordinator, Jason Wagner. This opportunity not only enhances their resume-building skills and refines their business etiquette but also ignites their curiosity about the possibilities in the professional world. Ninth-grade students have on-campus mentorships, and 10th to 12th-grade students can choose off-campus mentorships.
This year marks the second year of our Makerspace Mentorship, initiated by alumnus Aren Karr ‘24. Last year, Aren launched the makerspace as part of his mentorship project, collaborating with teachers to develop educational tools. This space, now a vibrant hub for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning, is equipped with a range of technologies, including 3D printers and the Glowforge laser cutter, alongside software like CAD (Computer-Aided Design), CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing), and Inkscape. It's a place where participants can explore, create, and share, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.