November 11, 2025
About 25 freshmen are enrolled in the peer program, receiving one-on-one check-ins from mentors. Groups are paired by shared interests and meet every other week for activities such as movie nights, pizza parties or gaming sessions.
November 11, 2025
As autumn paints much of the nation in gold and crimson — even if Florida skips the show — thoughts turn to turkey, togetherness and gratitude. At Beacon College, November brings its own spirit of Thanksgiving, and a recent campus survey reaped a bounty of appreciation among students, faculty and staff.
September 10, 2025
Beacon College has once again partnered with PBS member station WUCF TV to launch a new season of its award-winning television series, “A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity.”
August 21, 2025
Beacon College students will soon have a new option for grabbing a quick bite: a full-time food truck stationed right on campus.
June 17, 2025
Recognized nationally as the preeminent institution for educating students who learn differently, Beacon College now has earned a prestigious spot on Forbes’s inaugural Accessibility 100 list.
June 12, 2025
Beacon College recently received a $210,000 grant from The Fogg Charitable Trust to support the renovation and creation of a mixed-use facility and to fund scholarships for disadvantaged students with learning and attention issues.
May 20, 2025
Beacon College is excited to announce the appointment of Ryan McCabe to its Board of Trustees. His decades of leadership experience in business operations, strategic planning, and marketing will provide invaluable insight as Beacon College continues to advance its mission and growth.
May 19, 2025
Two of Beacon College’s most cherished campus venues received new identities during recent dedication ceremonies honoring the philanthropic spirit of two donors who have made major gifts to the college.
May 14, 2025
Graduating seniors, their families and Beacon faculty celebrated the graduation milestone as the college awarded 12 associate’s degrees and 60 bachelor’s degrees at its spring commencement exercises. The College also awarded honorary doctorates to Jason Eichenholz, Ph.D., and Roy Haley.
May 7, 2025
AI is just the latest in a line of innovations that have affected studio arts. In fact, innovation and shifting tools have become more common when it comes to the artistic process.
May 7, 2025
The conversation in education about disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence has become one of the more common in the field. We caught up with Dr. Kevin Reilly, vice president of academic affairs, to talk more about how the technology has been incorporated into the school’s approach.
May 6, 2025
With profound sorrow, Beacon College announces the passing of Dr. Nicoletta "Nicki" C. Nance, associate professor of human services and psychology, beloved colleague, and champion for mental health and neurodiversity.
By Gabrielle Russon
When Ben Silva arrived at Beacon College as a freshman, homesickness hit hard. The Rhode Island native missed his family and felt unsure about getting involved on campus.
Initially intimidated, Silva hesitated to join clubs. Eventually, he worked up the courage — and everything changed.
Now a senior, Silva is anything but uninvolved. He’s the men’s basketball team manager, co-president of the Dungeons & Dragons Club, and one of several upperclassmen serving as mentors in the Cohort Collective Peer Mentor Program, a new pilot initiative designed to help first-year students adjust to college life.
Reflecting on four years of growth, Silva channels his experience into guiding freshmen through the challenges he once faced. The program — Beacon’s latest effort — aims to create a sense of belonging and ease the transition to campus life.
This focus matters because Beacon students share many of the same challenges as Gen Z college students everywhere. A recent Psychology Today article cites a survey of roughly 1,100 U.S. college students, revealing that nearly two-thirds — 64.7% — reported feeling lonely.
That’s why the Cohort Collective was born — and it’s already making an impact.
“It really has made a huge difference. Students have come in and expressed how much this program has helped them.”
—Jessica Hughes, assistant director of campus and community engagement
About 25 freshmen are enrolled, receiving one-on-one check-ins from mentors who each support about five mentees. Groups are paired by shared interests and meet every other week for activities such as movie nights, pizza parties or gaming sessions.
Mentors — all upperclassmen — are paid for about five hours of work weekly, similar to other campus jobs. Freshmen can sign up anytime during the school year.
With new connections, students facing personal challenges are adjusting better and getting involved in campus life — from basketball games to pep rallies, Hughes said. She expects the program to continue next year and hopes it will double in size.
Silva, 22, checks in weekly with his mentees about homesickness and campus life. Sometimes he shares his own story — how he once hesitated to join student groups and now wishes he had done it sooner.
“It gives them someone who’s been through it before,” Silva said. “We’re all upperclassmen, so we can offer our experiences and perspectives. I really enjoy helping students adjust — it’s something I’m passionate about.”
