The Syracuse City School District and Syracuse University’s Higher Educational Opportunity Program Partner on Mentoring Program

The Syracuse City School District and Syracuse University’s Higher Educational Opportunity Program are partnering together on a new mentoring relationship. The program is entitled Developing Excellent Academic Leaders (D.E.A.L.) and will match students from the HEOP program at Syracuse with students at Clary Middle School.

The two groups will work collaboratively to establish a foundation and a system of support while fostering a long term mentor/mentee relationship. D.E.A.L. will expose students to diverse cultural events, lifestyles and community awareness while heightening the middle school student’s awareness of college and career opportunities.

“This partnership is a wonderful opportunity for our students in the Syracuse City School District to work with a mentee who shares some very real and similar life experiences,” said Larry Williams Director of Mentoring. “The exposure to college and career opportunities will be extremely beneficial for our students as they develop a bond with their mentee”, added Williams.

During the groups first session the mentees from Clary arrived on the SU campus and enjoyed lunch with their mentors. After lunch, the young men took tours of the SU campus in small groups. During the tour mentors and mentees were able to get to know each other and talk about their lives as college students and as middle schoolers. The tours gave the middle school students a sample of college life. During the tour they were also shown different dorms, and cafeterias. The evening ended with the mentors and mentees interacting in the dormitory lounge.