Shepherds

10/15/2026

A Sweet 16 Celebration Made Even Sweeter! A beautiful milestone and a special moment shared between Shepherds mentor Nancy Mitchell and her mentee, Ella L., a sophomore at Lauralton Hall!

This past Saturday, Nancy joined Ella in celebrating her Sweet 16 — a wonderful reminder that the bonds formed through Shepherds mentoring extend far beyond the classroom. Happy Sweet 16, Ella! Wishing you a wonderful year ahead filled with happiness, growth, and unforgettable memories!

Kolbe Cathedral High School Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall Fairfield Prep

10/08/2026

Please join us in welcoming Dennis Klemenz to the Shepherds Board of Directors!

Dennis is no stranger to the Shepherds community! A proud Notre Dame High School alumnus, Dennis served as a Shepherds mentor to Steven Torres, Notre Dame Class of 2026 Salutatorian, supporting and encouraging Steven throughout his four-year high school journey.

Professionally, Dennis brings extensive experience in technology, data analytics, cybersecurity, and financial services. Currently with Jovia Financial Credit Union, Dennis has built a career focused on leveraging technology, innovation, and strategic leadership to help organizations grow and succeed.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dennis has demonstrated a genuine commitment to giving back through his involvement with Shepherds and other community organizations.

Having experienced the transformative power of mentoring firsthand, Dennis brings a particularly valuable perspective to our Board — combining professional expertise with a personal understanding of the Shepherds mission and the students we serve.

We are thrilled to welcome Dennis to the Board and grateful that he has chosen to continue his Shepherds journey in this new leadership role!

Welcome aboard, Dennis!


Kolbe Cathedral High School Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall Fairfield Prep

10/05/2026

3 down, 1 to go! The Shepherds 2026–2027 Kickoff celebrations continued at Notre Dame High School of West Haven, our third of four partner-school kickoffs — and it was a great night of reconnecting, catching up and having some fun!

Our Shepherds mentors, mentees and families came together to officially kick off another year of mentoring at NDWH. From dinner and conversation to some friendly competition with Jenga, Connect Four and co****le, the evening was all about strengthening the relationships and sense of community that make Shepherds so special.

We were especially excited to welcome our new Class of 2030 mentor/mentee pairs as they begin their four-year Shepherds journey together, while also celebrating the returning pairs who continue to build connections year after year.

A big thank you to Notre Dame High School of West Haven for hosting us and for your continued partnership and commitment to our students. Here’s to a terrific year ahead for our NDWH Shepherds community!
Kolbe Cathedral High School Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall Fairfield Prep

09/29/2026

Friday night football + some fun Shepherds connections!

Shepherds/Lauralton Hall Class of 2029 mentee Ella L. and her mentor, Nancy Mitchell, were all smiles while cheering on Fairfield Prep at last Friday’s football game — and they had an extra-special reason to be in the stands!

Ella’s brother, Roberto, plays on the Fairfield Prep football team. Their dad, Roberto Lopez, Jr., is Shepherds’ Business & Operations Manager and a Fairfield Prep alum himself. And the Prep connection doesn’t stop there — Nancy is also the proud mom of a Fairfield Prep alum!

We love seeing the connections within our Shepherds community, especially when they bring together Lauralton Hall and Fairfield Prep, two of Shepherds’ four partner schools.
Kolbe Cathedral High School Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall Fairfield Prep

09/25/2026

Last night, we kept the Shepherds Kickoff celebrations going with our wonderful Kolbe Cathedral High School community!

It was a great evening bringing together our Shepherds/Kolbe mentors, mentees, and families to reconnect, welcome the new school year, and spend some quality time together. From catching up around the tables to a little friendly competition with Jenga, Connect Four and co****le, there were plenty of smiles, laughs, and great moments throughout the night. Here’s to a fantastic 2026–2027 school year, Shepherds!
Kolbe Cathedral High School Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall Fairfield Prep

09/16/2026

And we’re off! Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year Shepherds/Fairfield Prep!

We kicked off a brand-new year of mentoring, friendship, and opportunity with the first of our Shepherds Kickoff celebrations at Fairfield Prep!

It was a great evening bringing together our Shepherds/Fairfield Prep mentors, mentees, and families for plenty of good food, friendly competition, laughter, and most importantly, time to connect and catch up.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make our first Kickoff of the year such a fun one. We loved seeing our Shepherds community back together and are excited for all that’s ahead this school year!

Here’s to a fantastic year, Shepherds!

Kolbe Cathedral High School Notre Dame High School Lauralton Hall Fairfield Prep

09/13/2026

What a wonderful way to begin a new year of mentoring at Shepherds!

We were thrilled to gather for our annual Shepherds New Mentor Reception, graciously hosted once again at the beautiful home of former mentor Libby McKinney Tritschler.

It was a special evening welcoming our newest Class of 2030 mentors from Kolbe Cathedral High School, Notre Dame High School, Lauralton Hall, and Fairfield Prep as they prepare to begin their four-year mentoring journeys with their new mentees.

We are so grateful to these dedicated individuals for saying “yes” to mentoring and for making the commitment to be a consistent source of encouragement, guidance, and support in a young person’s life.

Here’s to new connections, meaningful relationships, and an exciting year ahead. Welcome to the Shepherds family, Class of 2030 mentors as the journey begins!

08/28/2026

Congratulations to Shepherds/Lauralton Hall Class of 2028 mentee Jaylee U. for attending Sacred Heart University's Summer Nurse Immersion Program. Jaylee spent a week learning from Sacred Heart’s Davis & Henley College of Nursing faculty and staff of hands-on activities in the SHU's School of Nursing and at Norwalk Hospital. Her mentor Amy Keary reported that she had a great week and was so grateful for the opportunity to meet other students and work with the SHU faculty and staff who ran the program. Fairfield Prep Kolbe Cathedral High School Lauralton Hall Notre Dame High School See more on SHU website:

Sacred Heart University welcomed local high school students for immersive summer programs, offering hands-on experiences and career exploration in health care and nursing.

08/24/2026

Each year, Shepherds is proud to provide deserving students with extraordinary sponsored experiences that broaden their horizons and encourage personal growth.

One of the most meaningful is the annual Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage, an opportunity offered to select Shepherds students during their junior year.

This August, Shepherds Class of 2027 students Alex A. and Joseph C. spent a week in Lourdes, France, joining young people from around the world for an unforgettable experience centered on service, spiritual growth, friendship and fellowship.

From serving and connecting with pilgrims to experiencing the beauty and traditions of Lourdes, Alex and Joseph returned home with memories—and perspectives—that will last far beyond their week in France.

Experiences like this are an important part of the Shepherds journey. We are incredibly grateful to the generous supporters who make opportunities like the Lourdes Pilgrimage possible for our students. Fairfield Prep Kolbe Cathedral High School Lauralton Hall Notre Dame High School

08/17/2026

Happy National Nonprofit Day 2026!

Today, we celebrate what makes Shepherds possible: the incredible people who believe in our mission and bring it to life every day.

THANK YOU to our donors, mentors, students, families, supporters, and partner schools. Your generosity, commitment, encouragement, and partnership allow Shepherds to mentor, empower, and transform the lives of young people.

You may help make Shepherds a nonprofit superhero, but YOU are the real heroes.

Learn more: www.shepherdsmentors.org Fairfield Prep Lauralton Hall Notre Dame High School Kolbe Cathedral High School