For families involved in Auburn University Outreach’s Young Professionals in Training (YPiT) program, the experience is far more profound than a typical college‑readiness initiative. Over the past five years, YPIT has evolved into a transformative force for middle and high school students, while simultaneously shaping the perspectives and professional aspirations of the Auburn undergraduates who mentor them.
Parents like Decetti Taylor and Emily Boyd participate regularly not only because their children benefit academically and socially, but also because the program fosters a supportive community atmosphere that extends to families. Their engagement reflects a larger momentum around YPiT, which has grown substantially. When the program began, a small group met virtually. Now, demand is so strong that the team can accept only fifty students out of sixty-three recent applicants. According to Jailin Sanders, a 2025 Auburn University engineering graduate and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer who has helped lead YPiT since its inception, this growth demonstrates the program’s credibility and the powerful word-of-mouth endorsements from students and parents who return year after year.
Even as Sanders graduated in December, he extended his service with YPiT because he feels a deep responsibility to the students. His connection to the work has also attracted other Auburn undergraduates. Christian Lomack, majoring in rehabilitation and disability studies, joined this semester and quickly recognized how YPiT models authentic community engagement. He believes students thrive when they feel embedded in a caring network and YPiT offers exactly that.
Anna‑Margaret Goldman, director of Auburn’s Center for Educational Outreach and Engagement, emphasizes that undergraduate mentors are “a key to the program’s success.” Their involvement provides high school students with firsthand insight into college life, helping them imagine themselves on a university campus and understand the pathways leading to academic and professional achievement.
At its core, YPIT is built on the belief that empowerment comes through exposure, support and community‑connected learning. Through monthly sessions focused on professional development, career exploration, community service and social‑emotional growth, students broaden their understanding of what is possible for their futures. Meanwhile, mentors discover the value of service, leadership and meaningful relationship‑building.
Together, the students, families and mentors who make up YPIT demonstrate how a university outreach program can become a catalyst for long‑lasting transformation, one that resonates far beyond the classroom and into the broader community.
