What is the role of mentors in the EI award process?

• A. They write the entire narrative themselves
• B. They guide planning and provide resources, but student leadership should drive the narrative; mentors support data collection and partnerships
• C. They are external evaluators
• D. They are optional and not involved

Answer: (B)

Mentors in this process act as guides who help plan, connect with resources, and form partnerships, while the students drive the story and the data that show impact. They coach the team on what to do next, point to useful tools or contacts, and help collect and organize evidence of how the project inspired others. They can assist with outlining the narrative, securing community or industry partnerships, and ensuring data is gathered and presented responsibly, but they do not write the entire narrative themselves. They’re there to support and enable, not to judge or replace the student leadership, and they’re not external evaluators. This setup keeps the students in charge of the storytelling while leveraging mentors to access resources and deepen the team’s impact.