Link Lab – Charlottesville High School Mentorship Program

Several students gather around a round table in a computer lab, examining a tabletop engineering device with a gear-shaped component. Two students lean over the device and interact with it while others observe nearby. The room contains rows of computers, office chairs, large windows, and display screens mounted high on the wall.

Link Lab - Charlottesville High School Mentorship Program

The UVA Engineering Link Lab–Charlottesville High School (CHS) Mentorship Program connects Link Lab students with local high school students through hands-on engineering mentorship and project-based learning. Since 2022, Link Lab mentors have been working with CHS students throughout the semester as they design, develop and present engineering projects. Mentors provide technical guidance, project management support, and encouragement while helping students develop critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. Through structured mentoring activities and one-on-one interactions, students gain valuable insight into both engineering research and the engineering design process.

A highlight of the program is an annual CHS field trip to UVA Engineering where the high school students tour labs and see demos, explore research spaces, and interact with Link Lab researchers, providing a firsthand look at what it means to study and conduct engineering research at the university level.

The mentorship program benefits both groups of students. CHS students gain exposure to engineering pathways, research, and university life, while Link Lab graduate students develop leadership, communication, coaching and mentoring skills. By fostering sustained partnerships between UVA and the local community, the program helps inspire future engineers and strengthens the culture of mentorship and outreach within the Link Lab.

Program Highlights

  • Connects Link Lab student mentors with CHS engineering students 
  • Supports semester-long CHS engineering projects
  • Builds engineering, project management, and research skills for CHS students
  • Builds coaching, leadership, and develops future workforce skills for UVA students

Student Mentorship Opportunity!

We are looking for mentors (graduate or undergraduate) to participate in our Link Lab – Charlottesville High School Mentorship Program. This year we will be mentoring the Engineering 4 classes (mostly seniors, and a few juniors) on their Capstone projects. This is a great opportunity to develop skills for your job in academia or industry, build your resume/CV, collaborate with a great cohort of Link Lab students, and make a meaningful impact in the local community. If you are interested, please reach out to Kelley ([email protected]).

"I have served as a mentor for the Link Lab CHS program for the past three years and have truly valued the experience. Link Lab provides opportunities to engage in community events with fellow graduate students and to participate in mentorship initiatives throughout the Charlottesville arHead-and-shoulders portrait of a person standing in front of a textured red brick wall. The person is facing the camera and wearing a light-colored, checkered button-down shirt. The image is evenly lit and framed from the chest up, with the brick wall filling the background.ea, offering a well-rounded experience alongside my research. Through this program, I have had a lot of fun sharing my expertise in 3D printing, circuitry, coding, and related technical skills with fellow mentors and students."
Zack Landsman
PhD Student