Fairfield U. Mentor Program

Tomorrow, Fairfield U students will roll up their sleeves for another Project Healthy Plate cooking class in partnership with Project Healthy Kids !

From nutrition tips and knife skills to hands-on food preparation, students will learn practical skills they can use for years to come. Plus, everyone will leave with new recipes, new confidence, and a grocery gift card to help put their skills into practice.

Please come directly to the kitchen at 1648 8th Ave (same as the last cooking class) at 5:30 pm.

We can’t wait to see what they create! 🍅🥕🫑

Fairfield U Banquet 2026 💙🩵

A special night celebrating our mentors, mentees, graduates, families, and community leaders who make this program so meaningful. Good food, lots of laughs, and a reminder of how proud we are of these students and all they’re capable of.

Grateful for this community and excited to see all that’s ahead for them.

A big thank you to Culinary Art Company for catering such an amazing dinner for the evening!

Congratulations to ALL our mentees and mentors!
2026 Awards-
Service & Commitment Awards: Buky Adeshina and Darshan Sangani
Rising Leaders & Assistant Directors: Olivia McCoy and Ben Wooten
Emerging Leader: Bella Griffiths
Mentor of the Year: Dr. Clay Willis
Community Leaders: MaRia Hill, RaShad Sanders, and Aaron Jones
Fairfield U Dedication Awards: Genesis Jones, Samya Cunningham, Briella Aylor, and Camille Harris
Rising Star: Vinny Khumbah
Fairfield U Steady Presence: Antonyo Paschall
Positive Impact: Jeremiah Lyles
Fairfield U Graduate 2026: Cameron Felder

We’re celebrating 2026 Fairfield U graduate, Cameron Felder. 🎓

Over the past several years, we’ve had the privilege of watching Cameron grow into an impressive young man, and soon he’ll graduate from high school and begin his next chapter at Marshall University. Cameron has received a $2,700 scholarship from the program in recognition of his hard work and accomplishments.

These photos capture so many memories from his years in Fairfield U, with the final photos showing Cameron alongside his mentor, Alec, four years ago compared to today. Dr. Alec graduated medical school this month and has been Cam’s mentor since his first year. It’s a special reminder of what mentorship and friendship can mean over time.

We are so proud of you, Cam, and excited to see all you accomplish!

Project Healthy Plate gave our Fairfield U students the chance to cook, learn, laugh, and create something together. Tonight was the first of several cooking classes our students will take part in through our partnership with Project Healthy Kids () and we could not be more excited for what’s ahead!

We’re grateful for everyone who invested their time, energy, and encouragement into making this experience so special for our youth. 🥗🍅🔪
Next Project Healthy Plate workshop is 6/3!

Join us for the Fairfield U Annual Banquet as we celebrate another year of mentorship, growth, friendship, and community. From STEM education sessions and college prep to cooking classes, basketball games, and everything in between, this program is built by incredible mentors, mentees, families, and community partners!

We’ll also be celebrating our graduating mentors and mentees and all they’ve accomplished this year.

Dinner will be provided, and all mentors, mentees, families, friends, and supporters are welcome. We can’t wait to celebrate together and reflect on another amazing semester at Fairfield U!!

Project Healthy Plate is officially underway! 🍽️

Our Fairfield U students had an amazing time during the first session of our cooking class series in partnership with Project Healthy Kids.

We’re so grateful for the opportunity to help our students build confidence in the kitchen, learn practical nutrition skills, and create healthy meals together in such a fun and welcoming environment.

Please join us THIS WEDNESDAY @ 5:30 pm! Please meet us at the kitchen!

Please join us as we wrap up another amazing semester at Fairfield U! 🎉

We still have TWO cooking classes with Project Healthy Kids before summer, hosted in their teaching kitchen!

And don’t forget our ANNUAL BANQUET this Thursday — dinner is provided for all mentors, mentees, families, friends, and community members as we celebrate an incredible year together! We hope to see you there!!

Big thanks to RaShad Sanders and Chase for joining Fairfield U last week for an awesome session on Money Management 101 and entrepreneurship💰
Our students learned practical tips about goal setting, saving, building credit, and what it takes to start your own business and invest in your future. We’re grateful for community leaders willing to pour knowledge and encouragement into the next generation.
Thank you for inspiring our students to dream big and think boldly about what’s possible!📈

Last night our students sat in a room listening to Brad D. Smith and John Hope Bryant talk about leadership, resilience, hope, and taking ownership of the future.

Exposure matters.
Representation matters.
Access matters.

Our students (mentees and mentors!) belong in rooms like this; not just as listeners, but as future leaders. Proud of our kids, always. Thank you, & for everything!

This month, Fairfield U students are attending Marshall University’s Black History Month Centennial fireside chat featuring John Hope Bryant in conversation with President Brad D. Smith!

Conversations about leadership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and community empowerment matter, especially for the next generation.

As part of our monthly education session, students will receive their regular stipend for participating — because their time, presence, and growth matter.

When students see leaders on stage, they begin to see themselves there, too.

Meet at the AD Lewis Center at 5:15 pm in Wednesday so we can ride over together!