The Power of Mentorship: A BestPrep Connection That Led to a Career

Publish on October 27, 2026 Categories -

A high school writing assignment can sometimes spark a connection that lasts far beyond graduation. For former BestPrep student and current Senior FP&A Analyst at Donaldson Company, Abby Mandt, that connection became a mentorship that helped shape her career.

As a senior at Shakopee High School, Abby participated in BestPrep’s eMentors program and was matched with Lori Schmidt, Senior Engineering Manager at Donaldson Company. Although the pairing was random, the two quickly discovered they had a shared connection to the Shakopee community.

[AbbyMandt (far right) as a high school student and Lori Schmidt at a Meet-and-Greet in 2018.]

Abby shared, “I found out Lori is from Shakopee and her kids went through the Shakopee schools. I didn’t know her prior, but she felt very approachable, and we talked about a lot of topics that were beneficial for me at that point in my life.” Lori shared a similar sentiment. “From Abby’s very first email, I could tell she was intelligent, insightful, and highly driven. Her thoughtfulness and enthusiasm immediately stood out and left a lasting impression.”

After graduating from high school and enrolling at the University of St. Thomas, Abby carried an important lesson from Lori: “It’s okay to explore different opportunities if you don’t know what you want to do.” That advice proved valuable as Abby pursued internships and career opportunities throughout college.

When an internship opened at Donaldson, Abby applied and reached out to Lori, with whom she had stayed connected on LinkedIn. Abby added, “I ended up getting it, and the internship was in the same department that she was in, so we crossed paths quite a bit.” Abby returned to Donaldson the following year and eventually received a full-time offer six months before graduating!

[Abby Mandt (right) with her mentee (left) at a Meet-and-Greet.]

In an incredible full-circle moment, Abby got to be an eMentor herself in a recent connection with Lakeville North High School students. “I really enjoyed being on the other side of it. It felt very gratifying for me to be able to provide that mentorship for somebody else.”

Reflecting on Abby’s journey, Lori shared, “Seeing Abby’s journey from eMentee to Donaldson employee has been one of the most rewarding aspects of mentoring. She has grown into a confident and respected professional, and I am incredibly proud of all that she has accomplished.”

 

Interested in incorporating eMentors into your curriculum? Click here to connect with the Program Manager.

Want to make a difference? Volunteer your company to participate in eMentors! Click here for more information