Office of the Secretary of Higher Education
GEAR UP mentors and staff at the annual mentorship training day. June 2026
This past June, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) team held its annual Mentor Training Workshop at Mercer County Community College. This years’ theme "Mentoring for Impact – Leadership & Growth," provided a full day of professional development, reflection and networking centered on the power of mentorship. In the GEAR UP program, mentors work with middle and high school students, providing them exposure to the college experience and serving as positive role models to strengthen students’ educational expectations and interpersonal development.
The day began with new mentors introduced to OSHE’s GEAR UP leadership along with a keynote presentation from Domonic Bowman, the Educational Opportunity Program Assistant Director at Rider University. In his address, "Standing in the Gaps: Empowering Mentors to Make a Difference," Bowman spoke about the unique opportunity mentors have in exposing students to new experiences, expanding their academic potential, and supporting their growth as individuals. Bowman also called on returning mentors to pass along their experience and knowledge to those new to the program, sending everyone into the day energized for learning and connection.
Bowman later shared, “Programs like GEAR UP work. They do matter. Things that these young mentors are doing with these students makes such a big difference in who they will be 2, 3, 4, 5 years from now.”
Following the keynote, mentors spent the day participating in four breakout sessions designed to build skills at every stage of the mentoring journey. These sessions included:
Mentoring 101 | Ariel Mator
An introduction to the role and responsibilities of mentoring, the goals of the mentor-protégé relationship, and ready-to-implement resources such as activity ideas and conversation guides.
Mentoring 201 | Jonice Schley
A refresher on mentor roles and responsibilities. Mentors also learned more about the student population served by the program and received additional ready-to-implement resources.
Mentoring 301 | Mercer GEAR UP Staff: Moniquea Clark, Hana Sabree, Chris Smith, Kaire Fenderson
New and returning mentors explored key interpersonal workplace competencies, including accountability, self-management, reliability, and professional conduct and integrity.
Mentoring 401 | Maria Andrade
Mentors examined how their own experiences, challenges and successes can inspire and support students. This session introduced techniques for effective, appropriate storytelling to help mentors articulate their impact and build authentic connections with students.
Not only was this a day for educating new mentors, OSHE staff also spoke with some of the GEAR UP counselors. While mentors are primarily college students selected to advise and coach younger pre-college students in the program, counselors serve in full-time leadership positions providing academic and career advice to students, as well as coordinating program activities. OSHE asked what experiences they had with the program, and how participation in GEAR UP can lead to student success.
Shahod Augustin, a Psychology major and graduate from New Jersey City University, discovered the GEAR UP program during his first year of college. He quickly applied to the mentorship program.
“The idea to work with kids was already in my future and I feel like GEAR UP was a steppingstone to lead me toward that,” he told us. “It built me professionally and gave me transferable skills that taught me how to grow and connect with people close to my age, younger than me, and […] older than me.” Shahod now works as a counselor for the program.
Cam’ron Klotz, also working as a counselor, is now in his second year at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Cam'ron came up through GEAR UP during middle school. He spoke about the program’s continued support and effectiveness in guiding him and his siblings toward success.
“By the time I turned into a [high school] senior ready to graduate and go to college, the program had known me for six years. They helped me get college tours [and] learn more about financial aid. They give you the family structure, but at the same time you’re learning so much about the college environment.I think that’s such a unique thing to have,” Cam’ron shared.
“It’s evident the people, the mentorships, and the family dynamic keeps elevating the next generation […] I was in the program from 6th grade to 12th grade, my sister just graduated high school through GEAR UP. Now she’s a freshman in college. My brother; just graduated 8th grade, he’s also in the program […] GEAR UP works.”
Maria Andrade, a former GEAR UP Regional Ambassador, returned as a guest speaker and instructor. “My journey with GEAR UP started in 2000. I went through the program myself, all the way through college… now I’m just giving back as much as I can.”
When asked what advice she had to impart to new students in the program, Maria encouraged students to keep working toward their educational goals, “Stay the course, GEAR UP does work, you are part of a story line of half a million students every year. GEAR UP is not only in your community, GEAR UP is not only in your state, it’s a way of living. Keep coming back and don’t stop.”
With funding from the U.S. Department of Education and the state, GEAR UP NJ helps prepare students for education and training after high school to reach their dream careers.
GEAR UP is a program that opens doors for students from all backgrounds, especially those from low-income communities. The New Jersey program serves students in grades 7-12 across 12 cities, having a presence in 90 middle and high schools statewide.
Explore GEAR UP:
Official Site of The State of New Jersey