Manhattan College Students Work To Establish Mentor Program At New Explorers High School In South Bronx

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan College students David Ellison ’09, Dinorah Pena ’10, Emily Murtaugh ’09 and Ayana Rainford ’09 have started to make strides toward the creation of a permanent mentor program at New Explorers High School.

The four communication majors will travel to the South Bronx high school on Monday, Nov. 24, to speak with 60 juniors about the importance of going to college, staying motivated and keeping a positive attitude.

“As Manhattan College students and members of the Riverdale community, we wanted to try and give back to children from the Bronx neighborhoods who are about to undergo the same experiences that we have; applying to college, preparing for and taking the SATs, and choosing the best university to continue their education,” says Ellison, who also serves as editor-in-chief of the College’s student newspaper The Quadrangle.

The Manhattan students plan to talk about their personal struggles with getting into college, common misconceptions about college and the importance of perseverance. They will hold a workshop on how to fill out applications and financial aid forms, and the difference between high school and college life.

For more information about the program, please contact Ellison at (401) 230-5520 or dellison87@gmail.com.

Founded in 1853, Manhattan College is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning offering more than 40 major programs of undergraduate study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science, along with graduate programs in education and engineering. For more information about Manhattan College, visit www.manhattan.edu.