Oct 22, 2009 By Herald Standard Staff 2 min read

Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, through its Reaching Educational Achievement with Community Help (REACH) program, and Smart Futures, a Pittsburgh-based educational consulting firm, is once again teaming up to offer PA e-Mentoring. The program will pair Fayette County high school students with local business professionals through e-mail. Mentors and mentees work together to complete 10 online activities. The result is a comprehensive, post-secondary college and career plan for each mentee.

“Participating in this program allows members of the current workforce to get involved in education and make a significant difference lending a helping hand to members of the future workforce,” said Dr. Ronald Sheba, education and workforce manager of REACH.

To accommodate a growing number of local students interested in joining the program and an increasing number of businesspeople who wish to volunteer, REACH will host PA e-Mentoring orientation sessions for new mentors who will work with students this school year.

The sessions will take place at the Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School, located at 175 Georges-Fairchance Road in Uniontown.

The sessions will be held Tuesday, Nov. 10 between the following times: 9 and 10:30 a.m.; 10:30 and noon; or 2 and 3:30 p.m.

Each session lasts approximately an hour and a half. Participants can choose from a morning or afternoon session.

Mentors can participate from their desk or from home.

They must commit to sending a minimum of one e-mail per week. They also must complete Pennsylvania Child Abuse and Criminal Record clearances before they are matched with a student.

Mentees participate in the program from their classrooms and at home.

To sign up to attend an orientation session, e-mail Sheba at ronalds@faypenn.org or call 724-437-7913. Leave a time preference and contact information when calling or e-mailing.

Deadline to register is Friday, Nov. 5. A second day of sessions will be planned, if needed.