10
The LINC Program
St. Lawrence first-year and sophomore students
are going to have a leg up when it comes to career
preparation, thanks to an idea Michael Arpey ’85 had .
The Laurentians Investing in Networking and Careers (LINC)
program, launched in 2013 and funded by a gift from Arpey, is
designed to match first-year and sophomore students individually
with a St. Lawrence alumnus/a who serves as a professional mentor.
The program provides a structure for developing connections and
sustaining the relationship for a year, with the goal of refining the
student’s networking and industry skills as well as encouraging a long-
term mentoring relationship.
“I wanted to find a way to help younger students from any background
prepare themselves for what’s next,” Arpey says. “A lot of students wake
up second semester senior year and begin thinking about the next step,
but by then it’s too late. With the LINC program, students have a
chance to work with someone in their intended career field, see what
the job is like and find out how they can start preparing now to make
themselves more competitive.”
Alumni mentors represent a diverse set of industries and class years.
Nearly 60 Laurentians, including 15 trustees and several past and
present Alumni Executive Council members, have signed on. The word
on campus has spread, too; the student response has been tremendous.
“While I was at
St. Lawrence for the
Laurentians in Residence
program, I was stunned
at the number of younger
students already looking
for help and insight,”
Arpey says. “This was a
way to make a difference
and give something back
to those who helped me
and others.”
Many students met their mentors this fall during events held on
campus and will maintain contact throughout the year. Mentors may
also host students for a shadowing or internship experience. Events in
a few key cities each year will bring students for networking and site
visits and provide another opportunity to connect with mentors.
“The program isn’t hard-wired; it’s what works for both the student
and the mentor,” Arpey says. “There are a lot of exciting things
happening at St. Lawrence and many ways to contribute to the
University, but it begins with becoming engaged and interacting with
students so you can see their quality. I think it is incumbent on us as
alumni to strengthen our community and prepare our students.”
To get involved as a mentor or learn more about the LINC Program,
contact Career Services at
of mentoring
the d
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eam
Mike Arpey ’85
