b'Cooperative Educationtechnology, cybersecurity,the needs of a mentee, and (Co-op) Program computational modeling andthe roles and responsibilities INL hosted 10 Cooperativesimulation, and materials scienceof a mentor. In 2019, University Education Program students inand engineering.Partnerships offered five mentor 2019, in the fields of electrical,Mentoring workshops to approximately 100 mechanical and computerINL participants.Mentoring is an important labwide engineering. A co-op is a typetool for growth and retention ofMentors of the Yearof internship that lets studentsINLs most important resource Good mentorship is essential to apply knowledge they obtainits employees. This year markedany internship, and every year INL through their university studiesthe third year that UP offeredinterns are polled to single out with practical, hands-onmentoring workshops to INLstwo mentors who have exceeded experience, receiving guidanceemployee population. In 2019, theexpectations. and instruction from INL scientistsworkshops added new sections and engineers. An INL co-opsThe 2019 Mentor of the Year on how to enhance workinghonor was awarded to Dr. Phil structure and duration is definedrelationships across generations by both the university and theErickson, a senior engineer at the labs mission needs. Co-opand the value of inclusion,Advanced Test Reactor. One of students frequently arrangeparticularly in a multiculturalEricksons interns described him their schedules to alternateenvironment. The format allowedas someone who gave them very between work at the lab andparticipants to share experiencesinteresting individual projects, on-campus study. Areas thatand leverage real-life cases asas well as being helpful in INL has identified for futurelearning and discussion tools.teaching us and giving us plenty co-op programs include fireThese workshops helped theof other opportunities to learn. protection and safety engineeringworkforce understand theAnother wrote, This mentor is importance of good mentoring,an incredibly passionate teacher. You can tell they genuinely enjoy mentoring students and have a wealth of knowledge to share from many decades in industry. This mentor is kind, but practical. They tell it to their students straight and do an excellent job of preparing them for life after college.First runner-up honors went to Krista Harris, whose interns credited her with continued attention to ensure we are not only enjoying our time, but that our time here is meaningful and 2019 Mentor of the Year Dr. Phil Erickson, middle worthwhile to our futures.9 |University Partnerships'