Pilot program to match college students with government leaders

MILLEDGEVILLE - Georgia College & State University and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to give students a chance to get to know state leaders better. <br> <br> The Georgia Education Mentorship pilot program, which began last week with a kickoff reception, will match 25 students with 25 business, education and government leaders from around the state. <br> <br> During the semester, each student will keep in touch with their mentor via e-mail and meet twice to ``shadow&#39;&#39; that person. <br> <br> Robin Harris, director of experiential learning at GC&SU, is coordinating the program. She said it benefits everyone involved. <br> <br> ``It benefits the students on many, many levels, but it also benefits the executives,&#39;&#39; Harris said. <br> <br> ``They often don&#39;t have a direct influence on what is going on in higher education, and through this program they have the ability to give us feedback. It also benefits us because it allows us to see if we are teaching what we need to be teaching, and it shows what the liberal arts program (at GC&SU) is all about.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> A few years ago, GC&SU President Rosemary DePaolo came up with the concept while addressing a group of business leaders. Though students won&#39;t receive course credit, the program offers more substantial rewards, Harris said. <br> <br> ``It&#39;s an honor and a privilege for the students, and it gives them the chance to interact with executives they never normally would have had the opportunity to interact with in this way,&#39;&#39; she said. <br> <br> The three-year pilot program will be funded through a $200,000 grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation.