Lost and Found Assoc. – Campus Connections
During the past academic year, Lost & Found developed strong partnerships with Greek Life organizations at South Dakota Mines. All but one organization has committed to implementing this program within their chapter. Four organizations completed training in the spring semester, with additional trainings planned for the fall. Student participants reported that mentorship training and ongoing support have contributed to improved fraternity house environments and reduced stigma around mental health. The following quotes from South Dakota Mines students highlight this impact: Triangle Mentor- "Our meeting was before a social with another Greek organization; we discussed boundaries and other expectations of respect at other houses". Chi Psi Mentor- “My mentee said that he has been starting to journal, which he hasn't done before, and he says that it has been helpful for him." Delta Sig Mentor- "We met with another brother/mentee in the house and discussed some hard to manage familial stressors, worked through what he can control and what he cannot." Chi Psi Mentor- "My mentee is staying really on top of things, and I am impressed by his efforts towards his goal as well as towards getting his accelerated masters. He is also using the workout app I suggested for his goal, and he seems to be enjoying it, which makes me happy" – Chi Psi Mentor- “Becoming a mentor has given me an additional opportunity to use and build my leadership skills. As an upperclassman/graduating senior, I want to avoid the stereotypical lack of engagement from seniors at the school, and being a mentor helps me feel that I am doing my part in staying engaged as a student, mentor, Brother, and friend.” Kappa Tau Mentor- “I believe this experience has been a unique one for me as my mentee is 4 years older than me, a 10-Year Military Veteran, and has his third kid on the way with his wife. I find myself being mentored most of the time in our conversations. In honesty, as one of the oldest members in the house at 26, I find myself mentoring everyone, even the "Old members" in certain aspects of life such as conflict resolution and evaluating consequences and helping others find their own fault in their actions with minimal guiding.” Chi Psi Mentor- “My mentee and I have been able to talk to each other more since starting this program. It helps to bring up topics that we can both talk about, and that helps us both to share stories or experiences that were covered by the week's topic. I have been happy with being able to share my experiences with my mentee to help him grow as a person. It also allows me to be able to look back and re-look at the situations and see how I have grown as a person.”