Closing Soon: Applications for Lunch Buddy Mentoring Fall 2026

Sept. 1 is the last date to apply for the Lunch Buddy Mentor program for the Fall 2026 semester. U of A undergraduates can earn three credit hours in this service-learning course, where mentors visit an elementary school twice weekly to have lunch with their mentee. Mentees are elementary students in need of additional social support, identified by school counselors. Mentors provide this support by promoting positive social interactions alongside their mentee at the lunch table, like helping to make conversation between their mentee and the other students or including them in games. Lunches are only 30 minutes, but there will be travel time before and after the lunch period to consider. 

Before mentoring begins, mentors must participate in a screening interview, brief training and complete a background check. They must have reliable transportation and a 1.5 hour availability twice per week during the school lunch period (roughly between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.). U of A students from any college and year are eligible. They must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. The instructor for this course is Dr. Tim Cavell, professor of psychological science. 

To submit an application, visit https://forms.gle/AoxKzGpqzP7udBrg6. Please contact Georgia Young at georgiay@uark.edu or Maranda Overholt at overholt@uark.edu about questions or for more information.