Lane Community College (LCC), in partnership with Onward Eugene and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, has launched Mentor Connect, a new mentorship initiative designed to strengthen career pathways for local students and enhance education through real world, experiential learning opportunities.
The six-month pilot program pairs 25 LCC students with 25 business and industry mentors from across Lane County, giving students direct insight into professional fields such as health professions, law enforcement, business, and human services.
Through a series of one-on-one meetings, job-shadowing opportunities, and community networking events, Mentor Connect will prepare students for career success by fostering real-world connections and career confidence.
“By connecting our students with local professionals, said Dr. Stephanie Bulger, President of Lane Community College, “we’re not only helping them prepare for their future careers, but also strengthening the region’s workforce and community.”
The program officially kicked off with an orientation and networking event on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at LCC’s new bond-funded Industry and Trades Education Center (ITEC). Over the next six months, mentors and mentees will participate in five engagement touchpoints, including three one-on-one meetings and two career-related activities such as job shadows, site visits, or Chamber networking events.
Mentor Connect was developed to align with Lane’s ongoing efforts to enhance career and technical education (CTE) pathways and ensure that students are equipped with the skills, confidence, and community connections they need to succeed after graduation.
“By partnering with Onward Eugene and the Springfield Chamber, we’re reinforcing the message that education and business thrive together,” Dr. Bulger added. “When we collaborate, everyone wins.”
Photo credit: Amelia Remington Corbari, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Lane Community College educates over 17,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $675 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 8,900 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.