On Thursday, November 6, 2025, the Puente Learning Community hosted its Mentor-Mentee Matching Dinner, welcoming both the 2025 – 2026 student cohort and the Puente mentors. Mentorship is a key pillar of Puente. Through mentorship, students gain a supportive figure – someone who listens, cares, encourages, and helps break down the hidden curriculum of education systems and professional fields.
Each year, Puente students are intentionally paired with a professional mentor who supports and guides them throughout their time at Skyline College. The Mentor-Mentee Matching Dinner is the first of many mentor events where Puentistas and mentors meet one another for the first time.
Puente Co-Coordinators Angela Serrano and Lucia Lachmayr led the evening, beginning with an interactive matchmaking icebreaker, where mentors and mentees were tasked with finding one another. Once paired, they enjoyed dinner and conversation around their cultural roots, favorite traditions, and values. The pairs were then led through bonding activities and an introduction to the Puente Mentorship Model. The night ended with a guided meditation led by Pablo Gonzalez, a long-time Puente mentor who had served Skyline College’s Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS) program for over 20 years before his retirement. Attendees left with a reminder to care for themselves so they can create space to care for others.
A huge thank you to those who made the night a success: Marisa Thigpen (Learning Communities Program Services Coordinator), Crystal Rangel-Cruz (Puente Student Assistant), Alex Flores Lopez (Learning Communities Student Assistant), and Phase Three Puentistas, Miguel Hernandez Dueñas and Sandro Bautista.
Puente’s mentorship component would not be possible without the commitment of our Puente mentors. Each year, we are extremely grateful for our mentors and want to give a heartfelt thanks to the 2025 – 2026 Puente Mentors for dedicating their time, energy, and heart to our students:
- Sandra Mendez, Izzabelle Aguilar, Chris Amaro, Nadia Biglari, Laurie Buchholz, Jose Cartagena, Olga Camacho, Fernanda Castorena, Kalia Chavez, Cesar Chavez-Vasquez, Hilary Cruz Mejia, Jacquie Escobar, Vicky Figueroa, Carmen Segismond, Lilian Gutierrez, Katie Hern, Martiza Lopez, Jose Milan, Alfredo Olguin, Virginia Rosales, Leo Rosales, Christian Sanchez, Pricsilla Sanchez, Monique Ubungen-Wardell, Chris Wardell, Lisa Weis, Clair Yeo-Sugajski.
Article by Angela Serrano, Puente Counselor and Co-Coordinator. Photos by Crystal Rangel-Cruz, Puente Student Assistant.
