Collaborative mentorship initiative builds community at Batten University
University News | September 2026
Sometimes, making a big difference starts with something small: 40 minutes; one conversation; a shared interest; or simply showing up.
Through a collaborative mentorship initiative involving Batten University’s Athenaeum, Tidewater Collegiate Academy (TCA) and Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), Batten students have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of local elementary and middle school students while developing skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
Located on the campus of Batten University, TCA provides a unique setting for this partnership. Through the program, Batten students serve as “Bigs,” building consistent, caring relationships with TCA students who benefit from having a positive and encouraging mentor in their lives.
The initiative reflects the Athenaeum’s commitment to collaboration across the University and to creating opportunities that connect students with the broader community. Batten staff members from areas including civic engagement, experiential learning, professional development and career development are working together to support the mentorship experience and connect students with an opportunity to learn through service.
For Batten students, becoming a Big offers more than volunteer experience. It provides a chance to strengthen leadership, communication and relationship-building skills while gaining real-world experience that can contribute to both personal growth and professional development.
Building relationships that matter
The heart of the program is the relationship between mentor and mentee.
Bigs and their TCA mentees spend time together in ways that are natural, engaging and fun. They might work on school assignments, play a sport or game, talk about their interests or simply spend time together. The goal is to create a supportive relationship in which young students know they have someone who is invested in their success.
“Mentorship” can sound like a formal or complicated undertaking, but the program demonstrates that meaningful connections often grow from simple, consistent interactions.
Beginning this fall, student mentors commit to at least two semesters and meet with their mentees once a week for approximately 40–45 minutes at TCA. Meetings can be scheduled on weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., providing flexibility for Batten students to participate between classes, practices and other commitments.
Preparing students to be effective mentors
To help student volunteers feel prepared for their new roles, Big Brothers Big Sisters provided comprehensive mentor training, "Mentorship 101," on campus on September 1.
The workshop was led by Sylvia Muller, M.S.Ed., Hampton Roads Program Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters and Director of Student Programs Maggie Hancock (BBBS), who introduced participants to the power and impact of mentorship and the fundamentals of effective mentoring.
The training explored how mentors can help young people build confidence and work toward brighter futures, while also giving college students practical strategies for becoming positive, dependable role models.
In addition to Batten University students, participants included Founder and Director of Tidewater Collegiate Academy Dr. Wendy Scott, Director of Civic Engagement and Service Learning Arin Shatto, Experiential Learning and Industry Engagement Coordinator Luvenia Hankins, Assistant Director for Student Professional Development Nicole Peller, and Director of Career Development. Alice Jones.
The training brought together Batten students interested in developing their mentorship knowledge and skills, including students who have registered to mentor TCA students through BBBS. Students from neighboring institutions who have signed up to mentor TCA students through BBBS also participated, further expanding the collaborative nature of the initiative.
A partnership that strengthens the community
The program is an example of how partnerships within and beyond the University can create opportunities that benefit everyone involved.
For TCA students, having a caring college mentor can provide encouragement, support and a positive connection to the university community. For Batten students, the experience offers an opportunity to practice skills that cannot always be learned in a classroom—listening, communicating, encouraging, leading and building trust.
And for the University community as a whole, the collaboration demonstrates the power of bringing people and programs together around a shared purpose.
The Athenaeum’s involvement is especially significant, bringing together colleagues across its programs and areas of expertise to help students translate their education into meaningful community engagement. At the same time, partnerships with TCA and Big Brothers Big Sisters extend that learning beyond campus and connect Batten students with younger members of the community.
Together, Batten University, Tidewater Collegiate Academy and Big Brothers Big Sisters are creating a culture of mentorship in which everyone has something to give—and something to gain.
Because sometimes, it takes little to be big.