Indianapolis, IN (April 2013) – Phyllis Gatewood Washington, Coordinator of the Twenty-first Century Scholars Success Program at IUPUI, is the recipient of the 2013 Alvin S. Bynum Mentor Award for Staff for her outstanding contributions to mentoring. The award will be conferred at the IUPUI Chancellor’s Academic Honors Convocation on April 26, 2013.  

            Under Washington’s leadership, a peer mentoring program has been implemented that has significantly impacted the persistence of  IUPUI's Twenty-first Century Scholars student participants, essentially closing the gap in one-year retention between low income, first-generation program participants and the overall IUPUI student population. Last year, Washington’s program received the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Outstanding Institutional Advising award.  

            “I am honored with the personal recognition of the award and, more importantly, with IUPUI’s belief that mentoring is an integral component of a student’s development and success,” stated Washington.

            The Bynum Mentor Awards are given each year to outstanding academic mentors who have demonstrated long-standing and unusual commitment to the learning process. Those eligible include full- and part-time faculty and academic professional staff including advisors, mentors, and counselors. Each recipient receives a cash award of $1,000.

            Criteria for selection include the mentor's cumulative impact on the lives of students, commitment to student development, and the ability to project and instill enthusiasm and pride. Any member of the campus community may serve as a nominator, and nominations prepared jointly by faculty and students are encouraged.

# # #

For more information, contact Harriett Bennett at 317-274-5036 or email hbenntt@iupui.edu