OSU Mentorship Program Has Supported Columbus Students
The LeBron James Family Foundation supports a program connecting college mentors with students at three local high schools.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Ohio State University REAL mentorship program provides life skills training and research opportunities to high school students in Columbus. Through support from the LeBron James Family Foundation, mentors focus on goal achievement and anxiety management.
Why it matters
The program aims to boost student self-efficacy, helping participants manage stress and improve their overall quality of life. By fostering these connections, the initiative seeks to provide students with practical tools for future success.
The REAL mentorship program serves 80 to 100 students across Beechcroft High School, Eastmoor Academy, and East High School. The initiative currently utilizes 26 college students to lead research and workshops.
The players
LeBron James Family Foundation
This organization provides ongoing support for the Ohio State University REAL mentorship program.
Ohio State University
This university serves as the host institution for the mentorship program connecting college and high school students.
Jillian Hilwig
This individual is a student mentor who began working with the program in 2025.
The details
Mentors at the Ohio State University conduct classroom workshops that teach techniques like delayed gratification and breathing exercises. College participants also perform ongoing research throughout the semester to measure the impact of these skills on student well-being.
Timeline
Fall 2025 marked the start of mentor Jillian Hilwig participation in the program.
During Spring 2026, Jillian Hilwig mentored students at East High School.
The LeBron James Family Foundation plans to expand the program to 20 universities in 2027.
Culture Shift
The program reflects a broader trend of integrating mental health and life skills training into secondary education through university partnerships. This approach aligns with efforts to build self-efficacy in students facing modern academic and social pressures.
Students at participating high schools gain access to direct mentorship that provides tools for goal planning and anxiety management. Families in the area can look forward to the potential expansion of these support resources into more schools.
The takeaway
Effective mentorship programs provide students with tangible strategies to navigate daily stressors and academic goals. Implementing simple techniques like breathing exercises can help high schoolers improve their focus and emotional regulation.
What happens next
The LeBron James Family Foundation intends to bring the mentorship program to two additional high schools in the future and aims to expand the initiative to 20 universities by 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the local educational landscape in Columbus Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Lantern.
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