April is National Volunteer Month, and we at ScholarMatch are excited to celebrate the incredible mentors who generously dedicate their time and expertise to supporting our first-generation college students. 

For many students, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college, the path to higher education can feel uncertain or even impossible. That’s where volunteer coaches step in, acting not only as mentors but also as real-world guides shaping students’ academic and professional trajectories. These individuals play a pivotal role in supporting our scholars through college and beyond as they prepare to launch their careers.

At ScholarMatch, we welcome volunteers from any background to mentor a student as a college or career coach throughout their academic journey. If you’ve been thinking about mentoring a student, now is a great time to give ScholarMatch a try. We currently have a high need for volunteers with experience in healthcare, but experience in other relevant fields is also welcome. 

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Helping students explore professional pathways

Sara Miller, a Senior Service Designer at Blue Shield of Michigan, volunteered as a career coach and was matched with Cely Pablo, a health communications major. Despite living across the country and coming from different academic paths—Sara studied English and later earned an arts degree—she was able to support Cely in many ways, helping her see academic and personal experiences as a meaningful journey that could lead to a career.

“Being present, listening actively, and relating to what the student is experiencing will help you tremendously as a coach,” says Sara. Together, they developed a strong resume for Cely, which helped her land a full-time job as an EMT. Now, Cely is about to complete her master’s in emergency management while balancing her full-time work. 

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Enriching mentorship through different perspectives 

ScholarMatch alum Ambrocio Sanchez Pineda remembers having mentors from all walks of life and the importance they had during his academic journey. “Your mentor doesn’t have to come from the [same] background as you,” he says, “what matters is that you learn from their experience and perspective. When a student has a variety of mentors, they don’t just gain information—they get inspired,” recalls Ambrocio, who is now in his fourth year as a Ph.D. biochemistry student at UC Irvine. 

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‍Going beyond the grades

ScholarMatch career coach Priya Rajamani, a Senior Technical Marketing Product Owner at Agilent Technologies, appreciates how the program helps guide meaningful conversations with students. But her approach is more nuanced, focusing on the bigger picture. 

“In school, they teach you the technical skills, but you need the soft skills too,” she recalls, adding that students need to know how to communicate and carry themselves in a professional setting. This kind of knowledge can go unnoticed by students who tend to focus more on building a strong resume. Learning how to navigate these professional subtleties is often the difference between surviving and thriving in a first job or internship. 

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The ripple effect of career coaching

Mentor-mentee relationships, like the ones featured above, can have a lasting impact on both individuals. ScholarMatch board member and longtime college coach Karen Grace-Baker still remembers encouraging high school student Lauryn Newsome to take a coding class, given her interest in technology. Many years later, Lauryn is now thriving at Meta as a Program Manager. 

“I think so often, as first-generation students, when we have certain opportunities and doubt ourselves, we don’t go for them,” added Julie Huang, ScholarMatch board member. “As mentors, we see where students are and try to push them to go beyond their comfort level.” This type of encouragement can create lasting and meaningful connections.

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Like Karen and Julie, most ScholarMatch mentors keep in touch with their students throughout the years, visiting them in graduate school or inviting them to networking opportunities. As another ScholarMatch coach shared, “It’s heartwarming and fills me with so much joy to see my mentee thriving in their field.” 

This National Volunteer Month, take a chance and join us on this rewarding mentorship journey. Support first-generation students by becoming a career coach today!

Learn more about other ways to get involved and support our work at scholarmatch.org.

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