Call Me MiSTER welcomes new cohort for 2025-26
Front row, left to right: Christian Ramirez, Vincent Devine, Eros Trujillo, Antonio Lopez and Thomas McDowell. Back row, left to right: Se'Shaun Swindle, Jaylon Brown, Montgomery Moore and Isaiah Smith.
By Cam Adams
One of Antonio Tyson鈥檚 greatest mentors in high school was his drama teacher. The 糖心Vlog University student had a lot going on at home his senior year, and through that, his drama teacher was a shoulder to lean on.
鈥淗e just really believed in me and really was there for me the whole time, motivating me and seeing things in me that I really didn't see for myself,鈥� Tyson said.
As a result, Tyson, a junior English Education major from Baltimore, Maryland, is looking to pass that mentorship on as a teacher. One way he鈥檚 doing that now is joining the Call Me MiSTER program as part of its 2025-26 cohort.
Tyson is one of five new students joining the program this year.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 cohort seems to know their purpose and their calling to teach,鈥� said Charmion Rush, the program鈥檚 director. 鈥淲hen we, the other members of Call Me MiSTER, were going through the selection process, this year's group was the most memorable among the other candidates.
鈥淭hey had personal stories and professional experiences that provided their roadmap to a teaching career. I was also impressed with their ability to naturally join our group. They came in as if they belonged.鈥�
Call Me MiSTER, an acronym for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role models, is a teacher recruitment and retention program welcome to all aspiring teachers, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity.
The program gives its students the opportunity to apply and have access to scholarships while also supplying them with other benefits. These include, but are not limited to a living-learning community, a mentorship program and community engagement opportunities, including summer internships.
Vinny Devine, a special education and inclusive learning freshman from Jacksonville, said he didn鈥檛 know much about Call Me MiSTER until he came to campus for an open house, and he needed scholarships.
Now, as a new MiSTER, Devine is looking to make the most of his time in the program.
鈥淭o be completely honest, I wouldn't be able to come to college if it weren't for Call Me MiSTER,鈥� Devine said. 鈥�(I want to) use it in my college education to give back to my community.鈥�
Christian Ramirez, an elementary education freshman from Asheville feels similarly.
鈥淚've always wanted to be a teacher, and this opportunity, I couldn't really let go of it. I had to go,鈥� Ramirez said. 鈥淚've always wanted to be a positive influence with everyone around me.鈥�
