ESTEEM Program Helps College Grads Maintain Faith Community

The Penn-Drexel Newman Center initiative connects seniors with mentors and resources to find vibrant Catholic communities after graduation.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:31am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The ESTEEM program at the Penn-Drexel Newman Center in Philadelphia aims to help college seniors transition from the strong faith community of campus life to maintaining that connection after graduation. Through mentorship, networking events, and resources, ESTEEM provides seniors with the tools to find or create vibrant young adult Catholic communities in the cities where they will be working.

Why it matters

Many college students develop a strong faith life during their time on campus, but struggle to find a similar community after graduation. ESTEEM helps bridge that gap, ensuring graduates can continue living out their Catholic faith as they enter the workforce.

The details

The ESTEEM program at the Penn-Drexel Newman Center pairs college seniors with mentors who have already graduated and are working in similar fields. Through monthly meetings, speaker sessions, and retreats, ESTEEM helps seniors develop the confidence and connections to find or build young adult Catholic communities in the cities where they will be working after graduation.

  • The ESTEEM program at the Penn-Drexel Newman Center is now in its seventh year.
  • The program pairs college seniors with mentors and holds monthly events.

The players

Patrick Travers

The director of the Penn-Drexel Newman Center, who recognized the need for a program to help graduating students maintain their faith community.

Lexi McCullough

A Penn graduate who participated in the ESTEEM program and found it helpful in transitioning to the workforce while maintaining her Catholic faith.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have young alumni that are getting involved in some places, and we are able to point to these places and people and just connect people that are graduating with some of our young alumni that are really living their faith in a really vibrant way post-college.”

— Patrick Travers, Director, Penn-Drexel Newman Center (catholicphilly.com)

“I learned so much from my mentor, despite the background differences, and we were able to have a lot of conversations about how she was able to be herself and be a practicing Catholic in the workforce.”

— Lexi McCullough, Penn Graduate (catholicphilly.com)

What’s next

The Penn-Drexel Newman Center hopes to see broader adoption of the ESTEEM program at other college Newman Centers across the country, to help more graduating students maintain their faith communities.

The takeaway

The ESTEEM program provides a model for how college campus ministries can support students in transitioning their vibrant faith lives to the workforce, ensuring young adults remain connected to the Church as they enter the next phase of their lives.