Celebrating the Class of 2026: Mentoring Relationships That Last a Lifetime

There was an overwhelming sense of joy, pride, gratitude, and love at the Holmes High School Senior Mentoring Celebration as Covington Independent Public Schools (CIPS) honored 38 graduating seniors who participated in the Covington Mentoring Program.

The celebration recognized students from the district’s school-based, community-based, work-based, and Bulldog Buddies peer mentoring programs for their achievements, dedication, perseverance, and commitment throughout their high school journey. For many students, mentoring was not simply a program—it was a relationship that spanned years. Several mentor matches remained together for six to eight years, growing side by side from middle school through graduation.

Made possible by Covington Independent Public Schools in collaboration with Partners For Change, the mentoring program is administered through the Department of Community & Family Engagement, connecting students with caring adults and peers who help them grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

“Mentors help their mentees grow into the best version of themselves and ensure they feel like they matter,” said CIPS Mentoring Coordinator Julie Wharton. “Thank you for your words of wisdom, encouragement, and steadfast faith in your students’ abilities to achieve at the highest levels.”

Throughout the celebration, mentors and mentees reflected on the impact of their relationships. Students shared how mentoring helped them build confidence, overcome challenges, and pursue their goals, while mentors spoke about the joy of watching students grow and the lessons they learned through the experience.

One mentor shared that his student taught him the importance of simply listening rather than trying to solve every problem, while another reflected that mentoring had reminded him that success is about much more than academics, it is also about discovering who you are and who you want to become.

The event also highlighted the district’s work-based mentoring program, which provides students with opportunities such as job shadowing, mock interviews, résumé building, workplace experiences, and career exploration. Students explored careers in healthcare, journalism, environmental science, education, social work, hospitality, the arts, and more.

“The relationships formed with their mentors were the heart and soul of this experience,” shared CIPS Mentoring Coordinator Kate Andriacco. “Our mentors served as advisors, confidants, and role models. They fostered personal growth, instilled confidence, and inspired ambition.”

The celebration also recognized graduating seniors from the Bulldog Buddies peer mentoring program, many of whom began as mentees before becoming mentors themselves. Through weekly mentoring sessions focused on leadership, social-emotional learning, and relationship building, these students helped create a culture of belonging and support for younger peers across the district.

As the Class of 2026 prepares for the next chapter, they do so with the support of mentors who have helped shape their journeys along the way. The impact of these relationships will continue long after graduation, leaving a lasting legacy of encouragement, growth, and connection.