No, this is NOT another thread on students vs. mentors (phew). I'm interested in finding out some of the many and varied things that mentors do in addition to engineering (although some permutations/combinations of engineering roles may be included). Mentors and students are both welcome to enter submissions, and you may add as many as you like.
I will start with a few of my own:
- K squared (key keeper) and Alarm Clock -- Last year in Atlanta, a couple students sheepishly asked if I would keep their room key overnight "just in case we're hard to wake up." The following morning, I heard the phone next door ring with the hotel wake-up call, followed by 10 minutes of silence. I pounded on the door with calls of, "Anyone alive here?" followed by groans, then more silence. Entering the room, I found 3 comatose life forms that literally had to be rolled out of bed. With the clock ticking, important choices had to be made -- go hungry or smelly? Guess which one won.
- Health Regulator -- Over the years, I have made many entreaties to increase consumption options beyond caffeine and sugar. I'm proud to say they took my suggestion to "Eat more greenery" to heart with the moldy bologna sandwich.
- BUB/BUS (Bring Up Bottomer/Bring Upto Speeder) - Better, higher, faster may be the motto of the veterans, but my goals are somewhat more modest. As new students continue to join the team, I no longer have the honor being the least knowledgeable member. It's my job to empathize with the newbies and make sure they don't get left behind in the dust.
- Creative Grammarian - See #3 above.
After a reasonable time, our TOTALLY unbiased committee will determine the winner(s) and send a suitable prize (most likely green food, in keeping with # 2).