The Walter Johnson APEX mentor program is a great way to help new students become acclimated with the APEX program and high school in general. However, this program divides its participants (both mentors and mentees) into groups of males and females, neglecting to take into account gender non-conforming students and other students who may feel more comfortable with co-ed mentors.

I am calling for the APEX program to no longer divide mentor groups into gender based cohorts. It is important that mentees are with people they feel comfortable with and should be able to have the option to opt in to having a specific gender mentor. Otherwise, this practice should no longer be used as it is archaic and noninclusive.