1:1 Career Junior Mentor Program

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” -  Benjamin Franklin -  

The 1:1 Junior Career Mentor Program is unique to Newport Harbor High School. The program started 27 years ago as a component of the first small learning community on campus, the “Da Vinci Academy”, and is funded by the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation. Over the years, the Junior Mentor Program has continued to grow and is now open to all juniors who wish to participate.

The program runs from summer after sophomore year through spring of junior year. Mentors provide career job shadowing to help students explore career options and act as an adult listener outside of family and school. Mentors can empathize with students about being a teen in our complicated world and help students develop strong decision-making skills. The program gives our students the opportunity to test drive a future career interest, as well as a reality check on their dreams before making further educational and professional decisions.

Newport Harbor High School is fortunate to have committed mentors and adults in the community who give their time to help the next generation. All mentors go through a thorough screening process that includes a Department of Justice background check, LiveScan fingerprinting, and TB testing. Mentors are matched with a student of the same gender. The majority of our mentors have been with the program for years, and we work diligently to match students and mentors in terms of both career interest and personal interest to help guarantee a successful year for both participants.

Applications are made available to students during the spring of their sophomore year for entry to the program. The application requires the student to submit a resume and complete a series of assessments designed to help the student determine their top three career choices.

Students and their mentor will meet for a minimum of 5 meetings over a period of 9 months, July – March. All meetings take place off campus at the mentor’s workplace for job shadows and at mutually agreed upon places and activities within the community for the personal social meetings. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their mentor to arrange all meetings. Students are required to submit six reflective papers throughout the program. We ask that mentors present job shadow opportunities that provide real-time learning opportunities. Students must be committed, independent, self-reliant, and able to schedule and attend meetings, as well as arrange their own transportation. This program also requires the support of a parent/guardian and the provided Mentor Coordinator to guide the student and mentor.

Calling all professionals in Orange County! We are always looking to expand our mentor family and would love to have you join!

If you are interested in participating, please provide us with your contact and profession information through our Junior Mentor Interest Form. 

Our program description is listed above and included in the interest form. Our mentors are required by NMUSD HR to complete a volunteer clearance process that includes a FBI/DOJ background check, fingerprint scan, and TB assessment. More information on these steps can be found in the interest form linked above. Questions regarding the clearance process? Contact Nicole Mack at nmack@nmusd.us. 

*For interested medical mentors only - We are unable to partner with any mentors who work directly in a Hoag facility at this time.*

Students apply to the program during spring of their sophomore year. Although there are no minimum requirements to participate in the program, we do thoroughly anaylze the student applications to ensure they will follow the rules and responsibilities of the program and proudly represent the SAILOR PRIDE qualities when meeting with their mentor. 

Due to the limited number of mentors, we cannot accept students after the application timeline or students outside of the targeted grade level. 

STUDENT APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025-2026 PROGRAM ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED. Students who applied will received their program admission decisions by June 30, 2025.

Anticipated Timeline for Accepted Students:

• Late June 2025 - Students receive their mentor pairing
• July 2025 - Students begin communication with mentors and schedule first meeting/interview
• September 2025 - Interview & Job Shadow #1 completed
• November 2025 - Social Meeting #1 completed
• January 2026 - Job Shadow # 2 completed
• Early March 2026 - Social Meeting #2 completed
• Late March 2026 - Reflection Paper completed and Appreciation Event

Student Expectations:

• Students uphold the majority of responsibility and are expected to schedule all meetings and maintain strong communication throughout the program.
• Students must be willing to explore new career pathways.
• Students will always be respectful and come prepared to each meeting. 

For all questions regarding the Newport Harbor High School 1:1 Career Junior Mentor Program, please contact Nicole Mack at nmack@nmusd.us. 

Funding provided by donations to the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation

All documents, program design and descriptions for the NHHS 1:1 Career Junior Mentor Program are original works of authorship. Wording on this page and documents attached are all copyright protected. All rights reserved © 2005-2024 D. Brostek

"I have huge hopes for tomorrow when given the chance to meet with such awesome "kids". I forget how much a person changes in high school. I'm happy to be a part of this program"
Mentor - Pete Swift

"Dr. Gordon - I hope all is well! I wanted to share with you the good news that I matched into an orthopedic hand surgery fellowship position at Mayo Clinic this week. I still credit those early days in your OR as the first steps towards this last chapter in my training. Thanks, again!"
Dr. Sean Cantwell (former mentee)

"THANK YOU for the wonderful experience my son had in the Mentor Program. Nicholas was paired with Dr. Reinkensmeyer at UCI.  He enjoyed job shadowing on campus, attending lectures and labs, and he especially connected with his mentor during their social outing. Dr. Reinkensmeyer graciously invited Nicholas to attend 2 lectures on campus this summer and today Nicholas is attending a lab where grad students are testing something for stroke patients. I keep thinking ... where else on Earth would my son be getting this kind of opportunity in high school?!? I'm feeling incredibly blessed and grateful. Thank you for running the Mentor Program where students are given the priceless opportunity to meet, interact, and connect with these professionals who, in many cases, influence their life path!"
Sharron Carey  NHHS Parent

"Many thanks for spearheading this program.  Our son Nash was in it last year and it was an amazing experience.  He was mentored by the CEO of Armada Skis.  That company has since moved to Park City.  As a result, Nash is going to the University of Utah in pursuit of a business degree and will be working at Armada while in school.  He hopes to pursue a career in the action sports industry."
Steve Mader NHHS Parent