Student Learns Firsthand How a City Works

When she goes to college next year, Becky Rawlins knows what she wants to major in and she credits the District 196 Mentor Program for helping her come to that decision. 

Rawlins is in the midst of a 12-week mentorship working for the Assistant to the Eagan City Administrator, Dianne Miller.

Maureen Love, Mentor Program Coordinator, estimates that in the 1o years she has worked in the program at least 500 students have participated.

District 196 began the Mentor Program in 1993 and, according to Love, it is something unique to the school district. Love says the program, which provides opportunities for district juniors and seniors to have a hands-on experience in a profession they are considering, is something the district feels strongly about.

By participating in a mentorship students often confirm that the career they are considering is right for them; other times they discover they really wouldn't be happy in a particular line of work afterall. 

For Rawlins, it was a bit of both. One of the key components of the program includes seriously researching a field of interest. The more she researched international entertainment marketing (the career path she originally considered), the more she realized it would be a poor fit for her.

That's when she turned to government and politics. She researched different types of public participation and local representation and then sent Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire an e-mail inquiring about doing her mentorship with him.

Maguire referred her to Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges and his assistant, Dianne Miller.

Miller said she interviewed Rawlins and agreed to mentor her because she found her to be articulate and motivated.

Rawlins is the third student Miller has worked with through the mentorship program and a number of other program participants have worked in the city, for example with engineering or finance departments. 

"It is part of the spirit of Eagan. [City Administrator] Tom Hedges has a long commitment to coaching and mentoring." Miller said. "We're hopeful to get the best and the brightest in local government." 

A mentorship is a way to expose interested students to the way city government works and the types of careers that are available to them.

Miller said, "We find mentor students are intelligent and motivated and have a value system that wants to give back to the community."

Explaining the work Rawlins is engaged in during her time with the City, Miller said, "We want to make sure the city will benefit but want to make sure it's meaningful as well."

Rawlins works two afternoons each week and much of her effort so far has been doing research for the Energy and Environment Advisory Commission in support of Eagan's participation in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program.

She also will have an opportunity to gain more perspective on what happens in a city by participating in a ride-along with an Eagan police officer, riding on a snow plow, and going to court with a prosecuting attorney.

Rawlins said her mentorship has shown her that city government is something she can do and in the future she hopes to find a way to engage in government. Just what form that will take is uncertain right now, but hopefully, by the time she gets her degree in political science from Portland State University, she’ll have a better idea. She knows she wants to “step it up” from just being an informed citizen, however, the rest is for the future to tell.

Love is appreciative of people like Hedges and Miller who “give up their time to participate,” as mentors.

According to Love, through the years, students have had mentoring opportunities in all facets of professional life, including medicine, education, engineering, architecture and social work.

New mentors are always welcome. Interested individuals may e-mail her at maureen.love@district196.org.