Stan State offers a wide variety of different support and mentor groups across campus, including the campus’ LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program.
The LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program hosts events and allows students to meet confidentially with faculty and staff to provide support, resources and guidance. 
Rachel Grimshaw, an English lecturer, co-director and a mentor in the program has been involved since spring 2015 and has enjoyed providing support for LGBTQ+ students on campus. Grimshaw also mentioned the various parties and get-togethers that the program offers to bring people together, with the biggest party being a white elephant exchange near the holidays.
Grimshaw explained that getting the word out about the Mentorship Program’s events has been challenging.
“The best way we can communicate is the flyers that we have posted around each department, but our biggest way of getting information around is student word of mouth,” Grimshaw said. 
“I would much rather have a student hear about us and not be interested, than to have them not know about our program,” said Grimshaw.
A student who wishes to remain anonymous talked about her experience in the program and how it has helped her get through schooling much easier. 
“I heard about the program through another student in my class. I was hesitant to attend at first, but after I went once, I knew that the program was something I needed in my life,” she said. 
There are times when, if you just need somebody to talk to, you can go out to coffee with your mentor and just sit down and talk. 
Benjamin Zamora, a recent graduate in the Spring 2018 semester with a double major in Gender Studies and Psychology, spoke about his time in the mentorship program as a student.
“My time in the mentorship was priceless, because I never knew I needed it until I had it. The experience was kind of like going to the ‘As Seen on TV’ aisle at Target or Walmart,” said Zamora. “You’ve seen the ad, watched the infomercial, it seems cool, and ask yourself ‘does it work, do you need this?’ The greatest surprise about the mentorship program is that it works and I needed it.”
Ben was also the president of Love Evolution, a club on campus that is a safe place for LGBTQ+ students to meet. He elaborated that the club and the mentorship program are a place where everybody is welcome. Love Evolution and the LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program help put on social events for fun as well as for significant days of acknowledgement that are special to the LGBTQ+ community. 
The LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program offers a unique opportunity for students to receive support and guidance. To find out more about the program, email [email protected]. A few words of encouragement can go a long way!