Trustee Scott Jennings, ME 88, and graduate student Hunter Moore talk before the program.

A swarm of 68 Georgia Tech alumni and students created a buzz in October at the opening session of Mentor Jackets — an Alumni Association program that matches students with alumni mentors.

"The objective of the program is to enhance the student's experience at Georgia Tech by collaborating with seasoned professionals," Jane Stoner, senior manager of Alumni Clubs, said. "Mentor Jackets is a gratifying experience because it allows our alumni to give back to students while exposing them to the quality of students who are enrolled at Georgia Tech."

Alumni in established careers are paired with students with compatible majors and job interests. They attend four structured meetings from October through March and keep in touch with each other at least once a month. The student also shadows the mentor at work to get an inside look at the role the alumnus plays on the job.

Zach Morford, a third-year psychology major, and Magd Riad, IE 01, seemed an odd pairing, until they discovered shared career interests. Riad is a member of the Alumni Association board of trustees and is brand-marketing manager for Blue Linx Corp.

"Although my mentor is an industrial engineer and I'm a psychology major, he works in the business sector and I am leaning toward industrial psychology," Morford said. "I was able to pick up on our common interests in our first meeting. This is a great chance to network and learn from his experiences."