R.I.S.E. Mentoring Program
Supporting Students Beyond the Scholarship
Receiving a scholarship is an important achievement, but college and vocational training can still bring new challenges. Students may need help adjusting to campus life, communicating with professors, managing responsibilities, building confidence, and preparing for life after graduation.
The Howard and Elizabeth Caldwell Foundation R.I.S.E. Mentoring Program provides continued guidance, encouragement, and connection for HEC scholarship recipients throughout their postsecondary journey.
R.I.S.E. stands for:
Resilient • Integrity • Successful • Educated
Our goal is to help students strengthen the skills, confidence, and support systems they need to continue moving forward.
More Than a Mentoring Program
R.I.S.E. is designed to remind students that they do not have to navigate college or vocational training alone.
Each participant is connected with a caring mentor who offers encouragement, accountability, and practical guidance. Mentors are not expected to have all the answers. Their role is to listen, support, encourage problem-solving, and help students identify resources when challenges arise.
Through mentoring relationships, workshops, and regular communication, students have opportunities to grow personally, academically, and professionally.
What R.I.S.E. Provides
Participants may receive support through:
- Regular mentor and mentee check-ins
- Quarterly virtual workshops
- College and career readiness guidance
- Support with organization, communication, and goal setting
- Encouragement with self-advocacy and independence
- Opportunities to connect with other HEC scholars
- Practical information for navigating college and young adulthood
- An annual book and school-supply stipend for eligible active participants
What Students Can Gain
Through active participation in R.I.S.E., students may strengthen their ability to:
- Set meaningful academic and personal goals
- Communicate their needs clearly
- Advocate for themselves
- Develop confidence and independence
- Manage responsibilities and deadlines
- Build healthy professional relationships
- Ask for help when needed
- Prepare for employment and life after graduation
Every student’s journey is different. R.I.S.E. meets students where they are and encourages steady progress toward where they want to go.
The Mentor-Mentee Relationship
A strong mentoring relationship is built on trust, respect, consistency, and communication.
Mentors are expected to maintain appropriate boundaries, protect student confidentiality, provide encouragement, and communicate regularly with their mentees.
Mentees are expected to remain engaged, respond to their mentors, participate in scheduled activities, and communicate honestly about their goals and challenges.
The relationship works best when both the mentor and mentee are committed to showing up, listening, and growing together.
Participant Expectations
R.I.S.E. participants are expected to:
- Attend the virtual Meet and Greet
- Participate in quarterly workshops
- Communicate regularly with their assigned mentor
- Notify their mentor when they cannot attend a scheduled activity
- Complete requested program forms and feedback surveys
- Demonstrate respectful and responsible behavior
- Take an active role in their own growth and development
Active participation may also be required to remain eligible for program stipends and other student-support opportunities.
Become a R.I.S.E. Mentor
A mentor can make a lasting difference simply by being consistent, encouraging, and willing to listen.
R.I.S.E. mentors support students as they navigate college, vocational training, career planning, and early adulthood. Mentors may help students think through challenges, celebrate accomplishments, identify resources, and stay focused on their goals.
Ideal mentors are:
- Dependable
- Patient
- Respectful
- Encouraging
- Good listeners
- Committed to appropriate boundaries
- Willing to communicate regularly
- Interested in supporting young adults with disabilities
Mentors receive program expectations, guidance, and training before being matched with a student.
[BECOME A MENTOR]
Who Can Participate?
The R.I.S.E. Mentoring Program serves eligible HEC Foundation scholarship recipients who are enrolled in college or vocational training.
Participation is intended for students who are willing to communicate with a mentor, attend program activities, and take an active role in their educational and personal development.
Why R.I.S.E. Matters
Students with disabilities may face barriers that extend beyond tuition and textbooks. They may need help understanding accommodations, adjusting to new expectations, managing stress, building independence, or finding the confidence to speak up for themselves.
R.I.S.E. provides a supportive connection during those important years.
We believe success is not only about entering college.
It is about having the support to continue, grow, and move toward graduation, employment, and independence.
Help a Student R.I.S.E.
Your support helps the Howard and Elizabeth Caldwell Foundation provide mentoring, workshops, educational resources, student stipends, and continued encouragement for students with disabilities.
Together, we can help students become more resilient, act with integrity, pursue success, and continue their education with confidence.
[SUPPORT R.I.S.E.]
[BECOME A MENTOR]
[CONTACT THE HEC FOUNDATION]
A note from our first mentee: “
“Dear HEC Foundation,My name is Hope S, I was born in Zambia and I’m officially a sophomore at McDanielcollege majoring in Kinesiology and minoring in Spanish. I would like to start this letter off bythanking God and a big thanks to the donors for this great opportunity and for believing that Ideserved this award. I am truly honored you’ve selected me to be the recipient of thisscholarship. I am well aware that this award is a privilege and a blessing that I really needed, andit means a lot to me. I don’t think words can express my gratitude so I will just have to show it bytaking advantage of this great privilege and using it to achieve my goals (which I have). It’s beena hard year all around and as a result, my goals have changed as well. I no longer wish to be adoctor, I have discovered that I didn’t want to do 12 more years of schooling. My advisorintroduced me to Physician’s Assistant School which is similar to a doctor but less schooling andI will forever be grateful to her. My 2020 freshman year was the worst and not at all what Iexpected. My standards were too high and expectations were not met but I know now what I mustdo to avoid my earlier academic downfall, every semester I learn something new to avoid and it’sbeen working out well. My 2021 Fall semester has been way better than last fall, I did a lot of theopposite things I did my 2020 Fall, and classes being in-person has helped me a lot especiallywith stress and I’ve done better academically. Not to sound “cringe” or “corny” but winning thisscholarship has helped me with my financial stress as well. Being part of the mentor group and having someonecheck on me has been a great help to me. McDaniel College is a very expensivecollege and I didn’t know that books and tuition were not included together, this scholarshiphelped me a lot with the stress I had because of that, even though I still had to take out some loansvia the scholarship not being enough to cover everything, it still helped me a lot because I only had to take out a smallloan that was uncovered, and a lot of the burdens I was carrying was lifted off. I feel so happy andlightweight. I will use this scholarship to get the help I need for my academic success. I am sograteful to everyone involved. Also, thank your for the stipend that you gave me to help with my text books. Thank you for seeing my potential.”Sincerely. ,Hope S.
