Shepherds

Friday night football + some fun Shepherds connections!

Shepherds/Lauralton Hall Class of 2029 mentee Ella L. and her mentor, Nancy Mitchell, were all smiles while cheering on Fairfield Prep at last Friday’s football game — and they had an extra-special reason to be in the stands!

Ella’s brother, Roberto, plays on the Fairfield Prep football team. Their dad, Roberto Lopez, Jr., is Shepherds’ Business & Operations Manager and a Fairfield Prep alum himself. And the Prep connection doesn’t stop there — Nancy is also the proud mom of a Fairfield Prep alum!

We love seeing the connections within our Shepherds community, especially when they bring together Lauralton Hall and Fairfield Prep, two of Shepherds’ four partner schools.
Kolbe Cathedral High School Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall Fairfield Prep

Last night, we kept the Shepherds Kickoff celebrations going with our wonderful Kolbe Cathedral High School community!

It was a great evening bringing together our Shepherds/Kolbe mentors, mentees, and families to reconnect, welcome the new school year, and spend some quality time together. From catching up around the tables to a little friendly competition with Jenga, Connect Four and co****le, there were plenty of smiles, laughs, and great moments throughout the night. Here’s to a fantastic 2026–2027 school year, Shepherds!
Kolbe Cathedral High School Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall Fairfield Prep

And we’re off! Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year Shepherds/Fairfield Prep!

We kicked off a brand-new year of mentoring, friendship, and opportunity with the first of our Shepherds Kickoff celebrations at Fairfield Prep!

It was a great evening bringing together our Shepherds/Fairfield Prep mentors, mentees, and families for plenty of good food, friendly competition, laughter, and most importantly, time to connect and catch up.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make our first Kickoff of the year such a fun one. We loved seeing our Shepherds community back together and are excited for all that’s ahead this school year!

Here’s to a fantastic year, Shepherds!

Kolbe Cathedral High School Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall Fairfield Prep

What a wonderful way to begin a new year of mentoring at Shepherds!

We were thrilled to gather for our annual Shepherds New Mentor Reception, graciously hosted once again at the beautiful home of former mentor Libby McKinney Tritschler.

It was a special evening welcoming our newest Class of 2030 mentors from Kolbe Cathedral High School, Notre Dame High School, Lauralton Hall, and Fairfield Prep as they prepare to begin their four-year mentoring journeys with their new mentees.

We are so grateful to these dedicated individuals for saying “yes” to mentoring and for making the commitment to be a consistent source of encouragement, guidance, and support in a young person’s life.

Here’s to new connections, meaningful relationships, and an exciting year ahead. Welcome to the Shepherds family, Class of 2030 mentors as the journey begins!

Congratulations to Shepherds/Lauralton Hall Class of 2028 mentee Jaylee U. for attending Sacred Heart University's Summer Nurse Immersion Program. Jaylee spent a week learning from Sacred Heart’s Davis & Henley College of Nursing faculty and staff of hands-on activities in the SHU's School of Nursing and at Norwalk Hospital. Her mentor Amy Keary reported that she had a great week and was so grateful for the opportunity to meet other students and work with the SHU faculty and staff who ran the program. Fairfield Prep Kolbe Cathedral High School Lauralton Hall Notre Dame High School See more on SHU website:

Local Students Explore Health Care Careers Sacred Heart University welcomed local high school students for immersive summer programs, offering hands-on experiences and career exploration in health care and nursing.

Each year, Shepherds is proud to provide deserving students with extraordinary sponsored experiences that broaden their horizons and encourage personal growth.

One of the most meaningful is the annual Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage, an opportunity offered to select Shepherds students during their junior year.

This August, Shepherds Class of 2027 students Alex A. and Joseph C. spent a week in Lourdes, France, joining young people from around the world for an unforgettable experience centered on service, spiritual growth, friendship and fellowship.

From serving and connecting with pilgrims to experiencing the beauty and traditions of Lourdes, Alex and Joseph returned home with memories—and perspectives—that will last far beyond their week in France.

Experiences like this are an important part of the Shepherds journey. We are incredibly grateful to the generous supporters who make opportunities like the Lourdes Pilgrimage possible for our students. Fairfield Prep Kolbe Cathedral High School Lauralton Hall Notre Dame High School

Happy National Nonprofit Day 2026!

Today, we celebrate what makes Shepherds possible: the incredible people who believe in our mission and bring it to life every day.

THANK YOU to our donors, mentors, students, families, supporters, and partner schools. Your generosity, commitment, encouragement, and partnership allow Shepherds to mentor, empower, and transform the lives of young people.

You may help make Shepherds a nonprofit superhero, but YOU are the real heroes.

Learn more: www.shepherdsmentors.org Fairfield Prep Lauralton Hall Notre Dame High School Kolbe Cathedral High School

Dear Shepherds Community,

We are very pleased to welcome Roberto Lopez, Jr. to the Shepherds team as our new Business & Operations Manager.

As Shepherds continues to grow and expand our reach, having strong internal systems and operational support is increasingly important to ensuring that we can remain focused on what matters most, our students, mentors, families and mission.

In his new role, Roberto will work closely with Executive Director Tim Magee and the Shepherds team to oversee and strengthen many of the essential functions that keep our organization running smoothly. His responsibilities will span financial management and reporting, business operations, human resources and compliance, organizational policies and systems, and support for our Board of Directors.

Roberto brings experience in business and operations along with a thoughtful, organized approach that will be a tremendous asset to our small and collaborative team. His role will help strengthen Shepherds’ internal infrastructure and position the organization for continued growth and sustainability as we enter an exciting new chapter!

Connect with Roberto on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlopezjr/

We are delighted to have Roberto join Shepherds and look forward to the expertise, energy and perspective he will bring to our work.

Please join us in giving Roberto a warm Shepherds welcome!

Warmly,

Tim Magee
Shepherds
Executive Director

Kolbe Cathedral High School Fairfield Prep Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall

Our Shepherd mentors and mentees recently spent the day visiting Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University, getting a firsthand look at college life, academic opportunities, and what their futures can hold.

From walking the campuses and connecting with admissions staff to imagining themselves as future college students, these visits help turn aspirations into achievable goals. Experiences like these are another way Shepherds empowers students to see what's possible and reminds them they don't have to navigate the journey alone.

Thank you to Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University for welcoming our students and mentors!

A special thank you to our dedicated mentors who shared this experience alongside their mentees:

Kevin Coles with Karim H.
Jeff O'Connell with Joe C.
Karen Waldvogel with Evelyn M.
Maria P.
Kaitlyn Z.

Kolbe Cathedral High School Fairfield Prep Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall

Everyone loves the hero's journey. But no hero gets there alone.

As The Odyssey opens in theaters today, audiences will watch the epic story of Odysseus—a journey filled with obstacles, uncertainty, resilience, and growth.

What many people don't realize is that The Odyssey is also one of history's great stories about mentoring.

Throughout his journey, Odysseus is guided by trusted advisors who challenge him, encourage him, and help him become the person he is meant to be. And while Odysseus is away, his son Telemachus grows into adulthood through the wisdom and support of mentors who help him discover his own strength.

At Shepherds, we see that same story unfold every day.

A caring mentor can't remove every obstacle, but they can help a young person navigate them with confidence, hope, and purpose. Sometimes the greatest adventure isn't crossing an ocean—it's helping a student discover they are capable of more than they ever imagined.

Every student deserves someone who believes in them.

Every journey is better with a mentor.
https://bit.ly/3RCG4al www.shepherdsmentors.org Kolbe Cathedral High School Fairfield Prep Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall

What the Odyssey Gets Right About Mentoring – The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring By Jean Rhodes Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey opens this week in theaters, and audiences will watch Zendaya play Athena, the shape-shifting goddess who guides young Telemachus while his father, Odysseus,...