eMentors Program

Contact us to integrate eMentors into your curriculum. Learn More

eMentors is an online mentoring program that offers high school students the opportunity to develop a relationship with a mentor in a professional field. Over the course of eight weeks, students and mentors discuss topics including college and career experience, interviewing skills, workplace etiquette, having a positive attitude, and more. Students and mentors also participate in activities focused on building the mentor-student relationship and learning more about career opportunities.

Students who engage with their mentors during this program learn about future career opportunities, how to network with others within a professional setting, improve their written communication skills, and receive advice from a supportive adult.

eMentors is proud to be a MENTOR Minnesota “Dedicated Partner,” one of the nation’s most influential organizations in youth mentoring.

Utilizing eMentors in your classroom is a great way to provide your students with real-world experience and knowledge about how to succeed in school, career, and life.

mentor and student

“The value for my students was enormous! Most of my students don't have anyone in their circles who do any of the jobs these mentors do. It is hard for them to imagine them or to be exposed to other jobs than those their parents do.”

~ Tara Kennedy, Edison High School Educator

BestPrep connects high school classrooms with local companies to form an eMentors partnership with employees corresponding with students through a weekly message exchange. Each student is matched with a mentor from that company.

Educators allocate one class period every week for students to message their mentors. Each week’s message is based on guiding questions selected by the educator (these are provided to educators by BestPrep).

Educators monitor student messages and integrate the eMentors experience into the curriculum through classroom activities and assignments.

Students and mentors also participate in activities focused on building the mentor-student relationship and learning more about career opportunities. These meet & greet activities could be done virtually or in-person at the company. Some examples include exchanging introduction videos, participating in a virtual career panel, meeting mentors on a virtual platform for a facilitated meet & greet, and viewing mentors’ career profile videos. Educators will get to select which activity will work best for their students.

Student Message:

Hey _____,

I think it’s cool that you went to Europe. I’ve never been out of the states before. But I have been to like 5 states.

Out time together was great. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after high school but I knew it would involve college. I hadn’t really thought about engineering a lot until you brought it up. A lot of people told me to do it because I’m good at math but I just shrugged it off. If I didn’t look into engineering, I probably would’ve played football. Many people tell me I should that too. Something I learned about myself was that (not to be cocky), I’m better at things then I thought. I always doubted myself because I always compared myself to the pros. But I realized that I’m not going to be good at everything. And it’s alright to not be a master at everything.

This week’s questions: What did you think of our time? What was the best part? What could’ve been better? Have you learned anything about yourself? Have you learned anything from me?

My last time messaging, Sincerely _____

Mentor Message:

Hi ______,

Thanks for being such a great mentee. I have really enjoyed getting to know you through the many conversations, online and in person, we have had over the past weeks. I appreciate all you shared with me about your life and goals. I’m very excited for you and your journey ahead. You’ve reminded me that life is full of possibilities (for 9th graders and 49-year-olds!). It’s what has inspired me to take up guitar lessons in January. It won’t be easy, but I’m determined to do it.

I hope you will stay determined too. Set a goal, whether it’s engineering or something else, and go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not good enough, and surround yourself with people who can help and support you. It won’t be easy, but you can do it!

I know connecting with someone through messages can seem weird at times, and I appreciate you sticking it out and connecting with me. I hope you enjoyed our discussions as much as I did and I wish you all the best for the future. Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

____________

  • Andover High School
  • Anoka High School
  • Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP), Anoka
  • Apple Valley Senior High
  • Mounds View High School
  • Becker High School
  • Blaine High School
  • Blooming Prairie High School
  • Brooklyn Center Community School
  • Brooklyn Center High School
  • Park Center IB World School, Brooklyn Park
  • Prairie Seeds Academy, Brooklyn Park
  • Burnsville High School
  • Byron Senior High School
  • Champlin Park High School
  • Dassel-Cokato Senior High
  • Greenway Senior High, Coleraine
  • Columbia Heights High School
  • Coon Rapids High School
  • Eagan High School
  • Eden Prairie Senior High
  • Elk River High School
  • Glencoe-Silver Lake Senior High
  • Simley Senior High School, Inver Grove Heights
  • Kimball High School
  • Lakeville North High School
  • Lakeville South High School
  • Maple Grove High School
  • Marshall High School
  • TriDistrict Community Education, Mendota Heights
  • Edison High School, Minneapolis
  • Heritage Academy of Science & Technology, Minneapolis
  • Minnehaha Academy-Upper School, Minneapolis
  • Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis
  • Southwest High School, Minneapolis
  • Washburn High School, Minneapolis
  • Lionsgate Academy, Minnetonka
  • Monticello High School
  • Mora Secondary
  • Irondale High School
  • Robbinsdale Cooper High School, New Hope
  • North Branch High School
  • Tartan High School, Oakdale
  • Osseo Senior High School
  • Owatonna Senior High School
  • Pine River-Backus Secondary School
  • Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, Plymouth
  • Rogers High School
  • Roseau Secondary School
  • Fairview Alternative High School, Roseville
  • Roseville Area High School
  • Murray County Central High School, Slayton
  • St. Michael-Albertville High School
  • Creative Arts Secondary School, St. Paul
  • Harding Senior High School, St. Paul
  • Johnson High School, St. Paul
  • Washington Tech Magnet School, St. Paul
  • Stillwater Area High School
  • Tracy Area High School
  • Two Rivers High School, West St. Paul
  • White Bear Lake Area High School South Campus
  • East Ridge High School, Woodbury
  • Woodbury High School
  • Worthington High School
  • Zimmerman High School
  • Zumbrota-Mazeppa Senior High

eMentors has some curriculums created for specific types of classes. These curriculums include pre-selected guiding questions and optional activities that complement the guiding question topic of week.

eMentors for Financial Literacy: designed for classes learning about personal finance. Students will work with mentors from a financial company. See guiding questions here.

eMentors for AVID: designed specifically for AVID classes that focuses on key components of the AVID program such as writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading. See guiding questions here.

eMentors for STEM: designed to increase students’ interest in STEM majors and careers. Students will work with mentors from a STEM company. See guiding questions here.

mentor and student working on project

2022 Impact Numbers

The eMentors program makes an impact annually on the students in the program.

3,388
STUDENTS

teachers

97
EDUCATORS

school house icon

65
SCHOOLS

2,839  VOLUNTEERS

eMentor News and Events

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October Featured Partner: Thrivent – a Four Decade Partnership

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October Featured School: Secondary Technical Education Program

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Celebrating Over 40 Years of Partnership with the Donaldson Company

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Celebrating more than 45 years with Wells Fargo

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Want to volunteer for eMentors? Find Out More