The air was thick with anticipation as our freshman scholars, parents and mentors met for the first time at the Class of 2016 Initiation Dinner on October 4th. More than 300 attendees chatted excitedly, sharing stories and getting to know each other.Our freshman scholars, an accomplished group, include several middle school valedictorians and salutatorians. Their mentors represent a variety of professions, such as attorneys, investment managers, CEOs, and entrepreneurs, yet they share a passion for giving back and a strong belief in the power of education to positively transform lives. A testament to the success of the LINK experience is the fact that the class of 2016 includes 7 LINK alumni who returned to mentor a scholar, as well as 20 LINK mentors who returned to mentor a second (and sometimes 3rd, 4th or 5th!) scholar.
One of the many highlights of the evening was the reflection offered by Rachel Thomas, a LINK alumna from the class of 1986. Her remarks were both funny and insightful, as she described being the teenage mentee of one of Chicago’s most influential businessmen. (I’m contacting Rachel for a quote to go here.) From her comments, it became evident that the positive impact of the LINK model remains the same thirty years later, and that both scholars and mentors have much to learn from each other. Rachel encouraged all of those present to make the most of their LINK journey.
Before the magic of the evening came to a close, our scholars, parents and mentors all stood and took an oath to develop and maintain a meaningful mentee/mentor relationship. It was a moving part of the evening, and one that cemented each person’s commitment to the mission of LINK Unlimited. As Melissa Gates, a new mentor from Wintrust, commented, the Initiation Dinner “was a really nice way to introduce the scholars, mentors, and parents and I am really proud to be a part of the organization. I am looking forward to all of the benefits of this experience.”