usf students stand with mentees on campus
LEO T. MCCARTHY CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE COMMON GOOD

Rising Youth Mentorship

The Rising Youth Mentorship program is on hiatus for 2025-26. We invite you to check back next fall for future plans for the 2026-27 school year.

Turn Learning Into Action

Are you passionate about sharing your college experience and educational journey with young people in San Francisco? As a USF Mentor, you will foster meaningful relationships with youth from historically underrepresented communities. You will engage in culturally humble and community-engaged practices in relationship building with mentees while promoting a college-going culture.

Through structured on-campus group activities during the school year, the USF Rising Youth Mentorship program introduces educational opportunities on the Hilltop and opens doors to the potential of higher education to middle-school students. In its pilot year 2023-24, our mentors worked with youth from Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, Prince Hall Computer Learning Center, and Magic Zone Collective Impact scholars, staff, and families.

group of students pose together in the innovation hive
usf student mentor folds airplanes with mentee
mentees build test cars
mentee plays giant jenga outside on grass
usf mentor and mentees sit in chairs and laugh together
Engineering students host mentees at the Innovation Hive, introducing design challenges that allow them to become an engineer for an afternoon.
Mentees put their design skills to the test, using paper to build airplanes for a flight challenge at Lo Schiavo S.J. Center for Science and Innovation.
Mentees build and test cars made from simple materials to roll down a ramp at the Innovation Hive.
Mentee reaches for a wooden block, while playing Giant Jenga with a USF mentor at our BBQ kick-off at Gleeson Plaza.
USF mentor sits with mentees at Fromm, in a gathering amongst writers and artists to nurture creativity.

Empower the Next Generation of Young Athletes

While this program is beneficial for all students, a number of our mentees are also aspiring athletes. And if you're a USF student athlete, you can serve as a role model to mentees, inspiring life lessons through education, awareness, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Help show mentees that they too, can balance academics and athletics.

Athletics
mentees spins basketball on fingertip

Find Community on Campus

Whether you’re looking to make friends, build skills, or serve others — we can help you decide whether or not this is right for you. Stop by our booth at the Involvement Fair, Day of the Dons, and more. We’re looking forward to meeting you on campus.

Welcome
students stand behind booth

Become a USF Mentor

Admitted students can visit myUSF to apply for the fellowship.

Apply Now