Aspire connects high school students with EWU undergraduate mentors who share similar academic interests and career goals.
Through a near-peer mentoring model, high school students gain real-world insight, practical guidance, and inspiration as they explore college and career pathways. Our undergraduate mentors share their personal experiences, offering advice, support, and encouragement to help mentees build confidence and take the next step toward their future.
Every student has the right to pursue a postsecondary pathway that aligns with their personal and professional passions, empowering them to achieve their career and life goals.
High school students receive mentorship from undergraduate mentors with shared academic and career interests, gaining valuable insights and tailored advice to support their goals.
Students better understand and navigate their postsecondary options, allowing them to make informed decisions about their education and career paths.
Mentors inspire and empower mentees through personal experiences, encouragement, and guidance, boosting their confidence to pursue their ambitions.
Want to know what it's really like? Hear from a couple of our Aspire mentors.
Under the guidance of Aspire staff, mentors may be responsible for:
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Applications are open throughout the academic year. Check Handshake for current available opportunities.
This Student Affairs position reports directly to Jasmin Davis and offers EWU students hands-on experience in education and community-based learning.
Through near-peer mentoring, Aspire mentors will engage with small groups of mentees for four hours each month throughout the academic year, providing personalized guidance, support, and resources to help them navigate their postsecondary and career pathways.
Mentors often facilitate discussions on postsecondary planning, career exploration, and essential life skills, ensuring mentees gain valuable insights into their future opportunities. Mentors participate in professional development sessions to refine their leadership, communication, and mentoring skills, equipping them to provide effective guidance and foster a strong college-going culture in their mentee groups.
In January of 2023, LaunchNW was awarded a Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) Regional Challenge Grant.
The Aspire program, through Eastern Washington University, is empowering undergraduate students and partnering with regional high school juniors and seniors. To learn more about this grant, visit the LaunchNW press release and the WSAC Regional Challenge Announcement.
In collaboration with LaunchNW, many Aspire mentees are also eligible for the Promise scholarship. Learn more about this scholarship here.
In November of 2023, Aspire was awarded the Limitless Grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
This grant provides EWU and Aspire program with funding of $100,000 over the next four years, allowing mentors to continue supporting high school students. Read more about this wonderful grant here and here.
Communities in Schools coordinators play a vital role in identifying and recruiting high school mentees to participate in the Aspire program, ensuring we reach students who will benefit most from mentorship. They also provide valuable insight into the specific needs of their students, helping us tailor discussions on postsecondary planning, career readiness, and life skills to be as relevant and impactful as possible.
Big Brothers Big Sisters coordinators play a vital role in identifying and recruiting high school mentees to participate in the Aspire program, ensuring we reach students who will benefit most from mentorship. They also provide valuable insight into the specific needs of their students, helping us tailor discussions on postsecondary planning, career readiness, and life skills to be as relevant and impactful as possible.
College Success Foundation coordinators play a vital role in identifying and recruiting high school mentees to participate in the Aspire program, ensuring we reach students who will benefit most from mentorship. They also provide valuable insight into the specific needs of their students, helping us tailor discussions on postsecondary planning, career readiness, and life skills to be as relevant and impactful as possible.
North East Washington Educational Service District 101 coordinators play a vital role in identifying and recruiting high school mentees to participate in the Aspire program, ensuring we reach students who will benefit most from mentorship. They also provide valuable insight into the specific needs of their students, helping us tailor discussions on postsecondary planning, career readiness, and life skills to be as relevant and impactful as possible.
The Aspire program works on two levels.
To collaborate with Aspire, please reach out to Jasmin Davis at jdavis163@ewu.edu.
Here are our current community partners:
Aspire partnered with eight regional high schools during the 2024-2025 school year. We are proud to be an integrated part of their overall postsecondary access culture and services to students.
Ferris High School
Liberty High School
University High School
Rogers High School
Central Valley High School
Shadle Park High School
Medical Lake High School
Cheney High School
In collaboration with LaunchNW, many Aspire mentees are also eligible for the Promise scholarship. Learn more about this scholarship here.
301 Pence Union Building
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA 99004
We believe every student has the right to pursue a postsecondary pathway that aligns with their personal and professional passions, empowering them to achieve their career and life goals.
