Research Stream: Stories/Lived Experience
Authors: Rachel McGettrick, PhD Student, Department of Psychology & ALL Institute, and Kalyn Potter, Project Manager – Mentoring for Equality Programme, STEM Passport for Inclusion & ALL Institute.
Behind every successful student is someone who believed in them, and in the case of the STEM Passport for Inclusion, that belief comes from a growing network of dedicated mentors who are not only supporting students in STEM but reshaping what’s possible for those from underrepresented communities.
On May 21st, 2025, STEM Passport was delighted to host the first annual Mentor Awards. This event was a celebration of both hard work and heartfelt appreciation for the incredible mentors who took part in the programme. This landmark event didn’t just recognise the generous individuals behind the programme, it also highlighted the collective impact of the STEM Passport and the growing movement toward inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) across Ireland.
Led by Prof. Katriona O’Sullivan at Maynooth University (MU), and supported by stakeholders including Microsoft Ireland, Maynooth University, Research Ireland, the Department of Education and various educational and industry partners, the STEM Passport aims tackle the critical disparities in STEM education in Ireland. The project specifically supports girls from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom attend DEIS schools. To achieve this, the project works across all four provinces to provide students with the opportunity to graduate with a university-accredited STEM skills module, and to develop a mentoring relationship with professionals in industry – relationships that help them envision a future in which they belong. This work aligns with our shared commitment at the ALL Institute to ensure that access, equity, and inclusion are central to how we shape the future of education and opportunity in Ireland.
This mentoring relationship is a key component of the programme. More than 966 mentors from over 180 industry partners have taken part, all trained through the ‘Mentoring for Equality’ programme. Developed in partnership with the MU Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Interculturalism (EDI) office and the STEM Passport team, the programme equips mentors with an understanding of systemic inequality in education. This training has helped ensure that mentors are well-equipped to engage with students in a meaningful and inclusive way, helping to create spaces that are more reflective of the diverse talent that exists in Irish classrooms.
The Mentor Awards was an evening of joy, gratitude, and reflection. The event was hosted at MongoDB, one of our industry partners and organised and led by our inspiring project manager for the mentoring in equality programme, Kalyn Potter. The event brought the STEM Passport Team, mentors, and partners together to recognise and celebrate those who go above and beyond to promote equality in STEM.
Kalyn opened the evening by introducing the project and acknowledging the hard work and heart that every mentor brings to the programme. Following a welcome by company partner lead and hosts, Ciara Griffin and Marie Ronan, Kalyn then introduced Prof. Katriona O’Sullivan. Prof. O’Sullivan reminded us that the inequality we are tackling is systemic, driven by limited access to STEM education, few visible role models, and barriers that keep talented students out of key opportunities. The STEM Passport, she explained, combines knowledge (a Level 6 university qualification), relationships (mentoring from industry), and real reward (Leaving Certificate points) to level the playing field.
Isabel Meza, our Programme Manager, followed by highlighting the reach and impact of the project. Over 5,000 students have been reached since 2022, with many now actively considering or undertaking STEM for their future careers. In the 2024/20205 academic year alone, 445 new mentors joined, and 179 returned – a clear sign of the programme’s impact and momentum.
Moving on, the awards aspect of the evening was next. We celebrated all the mentors, while shining a spotlight on individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the programme. We had 6 different categories of Mentor Awards. The ‘Enduring Impact Award’ was for individuals who have been engaged with the programme since its original pilot and was won by 37 different mentors from companies such as Microsoft, Optum, Accenture, and DocuSign. The ‘Changemaker Award’ was for mentors who have engaged with more than five groups of mentees and was won by two mentors from AMD and MongoDB. Two other mentors from Microsoft took home the ‘Problem Solver Award’, which represented individuals who navigated and overcame challenges during a mentoring session.
Continuing on, the ‘Trailblazer Award’, which celebrated individuals who have championed the expansion of the programme and brought in new company partners, saw three mentors from Longford County Council, Mastercard, and DocuSign winning. ‘Going the Distance Award’ was for the cohort of mentors who all chose to drive to support in-person mentoring, often driving a greater duration of time than they were mentoring. For example, one mentor’s commute for this was 1.5 hours each way. This was won by 8 different mentors. Lastly, the ‘Subbing Superhero Award’ went to the mentors that always stepped up when someone else had a last-minute emergency and had to step out of their scheduled mentoring session, which was won by two mentors from Microsoft and MongoDB.
Next, we also recognised the Company Engagement Award. This was a celebration of company representation within the mentoring for equality programme. There were different levels for companies as they recruit greater number of mentors, so this was cumulative across all years of the company’s engagement with the programme. Microsoft brought home the ‘Platinum Engagement Award’, with over 300 mentors since programme engagement. The ‘Silver Engagement Award’ was won by Accenture, with over 70 mentors since engagement. Lastly, the ‘Bronze Engagement Award’, with engagement from over 30 mentors, was won by AMD, Bank of America, DocuSign, EY, KPMG, Optum, and Sun Life. All were represented by dedicated mentors and leaders from each organisation.
The final part of the evening was an insightful panel discussion with two company leads and one of our mentors from our founding company partner, Microsoft Ireland – Sabrina Staunton (Director of Workplace Experience Tech Hub Lead, Mastercard), Mayank Tiwari (Software Engineer, Microsoft), and Paula Kelly (HR Director, Sun Life Ireland) – which Kalyn Potter moderated. This panel was a powerful mix of wisdom and lived experience, offering honest reflections on what it’s like to be a mentor, dished up with a dose of humour and inspiring entreaties that served as a reminder of the significance of the work being achieved. They shared their personal reasons for getting involved in the programme and left us with thoughtful recommendations for the future. After the event wrapped up, everyone gathered for refreshments and networking, a perfect opportunity for mentors to share their personal experiences and reflections on being part of the programme.
The Mentor Awards were more than a celebration; they were a call to action. The STEM Passport for Inclusion has now facilitated over 2,500 hours of mentoring, helping students gain confidence, knowledge, and access. As we look to the future, our goal is to grow this network, deepen our impact, and continue advancing equality in STEM. The mentors we celebrated this week don’t just support students – they are reimagining what it means to belong in STEM. In addition, the mentors speak directly to the broader goals of the ALL Institute by creating inclusive pathways that empower individuals to fully participate in education and society. Because when young people are shown that someone believes in them, the possibilities are endless.