Announcements

Mentoring Opportunity

The Translational Science Institute at Wake Forest School of Medicine is sponsoring workshops for parents through our Program in Community Engagement and Implementation and we are recruiting mentors to assist in this project.  These workshops aim to assist parents in guiding their children’s participation in science fair competition at their local school, and possibly beyond.  The goal is to promote interest in careers in science and healthcare.   

The workshops will be held in September, 2011 at four local schools: Cook, Forest Park, Diggs-Latham, and Ibraham Elementary.  They are targeted at parents of elementary-aged children who attend Equity+ or “at-risk” schools.  A follow-up program will be offered for parents during the first two weeks in October in anticipation of the Science Fair that takes place from mid-November through December at local schools.      

Since we want to provide support to all families who are interested in pursuing the creation of a science project, wewould like to offer a mentor to each participating family.  The mentor will shepherd the family through the science fair process.  This might mean clarifying rules about the science fair, discussing the value of participation without an emphasis on winning, helping the student find an idea, thinking about the project design with the student, providing guidance about conducting the experiment, supporting the completion of the project, and being a role model for scientific interest.  

We are working with local businesses to provide a “starter kit” of supplies.  Teacher support is another component of our project.   

 The mentor role is a key ingredient in the success of this endeavor.  Would you be willing to serve as a mentor or help us finda mentor from your organization?  We won’t know the exact number of mentors needed until after the initial workshops.  We are trying to create a list of people willing to serve as mentors, so we’ll be ready to provide that support at the appropriate time.  Mentors will be provided with all the needed information associated with science fair rules and expectations.  Each mentor will negotiate the amount of time to be devoted to help with the project.  In addition to a mentor, each student will also be paired with a “buddy,” a college student who can provide support that does not require the skills of the mentor.   

If you are willing to serve as a mentor, or if you can recommend a colleague, please contact: 

 LaChelle Waller PhD. 
336-713-7548
lmwaller@wakehealth.edu