College students from Mount Saint Mary College mentor scholars from Newburgh Free Academy, West campus every Thursday. Students are paired with the same mentor each week to help nurture and grow the relationship. Mentors are college students who are part of the Division of Education at MSMC. A few of the mentors are also recent NFA alumni.

Activities may vary among the pairs, but a typical day for one group consisted of heading downstairs to the lounge to practice their guitar and ukulele together, grabbing a bite to eat at a dining hall, and going to the Knight Spot to play piano. 

Students spend time in common areas, the library, the gym, the dining halls, and some classes or study sessions. On Earth Day, our students participated in activities on campus that included a pop-up petting zoo! 

This mentoring program is the result of a strong partnership between Ms. Lakeya Stukes, school counselor at Newburgh Free Academy, West campus and Dr. David Gallagher, Associate Professor of Education at Mount Saint Mary College.