FastStart program seeking alumni mentors for first-year students

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State alumni and employees can make a huge difference in the life of a first-year Penn State student by becoming a mentor in the Penn State Alumni Association’s FastStart program.

Established in 1996, FastStart helps first-year students build strong connections, achieve academic success and develop professionally. The program uses a triad mentorship model, pairing each student (mentee) with both a Penn State faculty or staff member and an alumni mentor. Together, this team provides guidance, encouragement and resources to help students get their Penn State experience off to a FastStart.

FastStart mentors share experiences and provide feedback and guidance during a mentee’s first year to help them achieve their goals and reach their full potential. On average, mentors may interact with a student for one to two hours per month — but the impact of that time on students is incalculable. In the video below, FastStart mentor Millie Rodriguez (class of 2000) shares why she’s inspired to give back through the Alumni Association mentoring program.

Student mentees have cited a wide variety of benefits from their FastStart experience, such as acquiring a better approach to time management, having a more focused career direction, or learning about specific resources that Penn State offers students.

Students are matched with mentors based on compatibility and shared interests through a dedicated online engagement platform connected via LionLink, a career networking site exclusively for Penn Staters. Both mentees and mentors are provided with resources and training videos.

FastStart currently seeks both mentors and mentees for the upcoming year, which begins in January 2026. Prospective mentors should:

1. Click here to get started.
2. Complete the registration questions.
3. Watch for additional details once registration is approved.

Additional questions can be directed to Daphne Mark, coordinator of student and young alumni communities for the Penn State Alumni Association, at dlm79@psu.edu or 814-865-4515.