More mentors are needed to enrich the experience of high school students selected to attend Siggraph 2012 in Los Angeles.

Siggraph Pioneers is again recruiting computer graphics professional who will attend Siggraph to volunteer as a mentor for a high school student attending the annual conference.

According to Siggraph Pioneers member Dave Kasik, mentors will spend about 30 minutes a day providing on-site guidance to a high school student who has been selected to receive a full Siggraph conference pass.

“We are concerned about the lack of young people interested in careers in technology,” says Kasik. “The statistics are particularly alarming in computer science, especially for women and minorities.”

“The personal rewards of being a mentor are significant,” adds Kasik. “It’s a treat for me to walk around with my student and find out what graphics technology is exciting to someone in high school.”

Each student will be a full-fledged Siggraph attendee because the conference donates the registration fee. The mentor’s role is to provide on-site guidance during the conference. The idea is simple: let each student experience computer graphics up-close-and-personal and have an industry expert as consultant and guide.

Siggraph Pioneers has been providing mentors for several years; the organization is open to anyone who has worked in computer graphics for 25 or more years. The group holds an annual gathering at Siggraph. Membership in Siggraph Pioneers is not required to be a mentor.

For more information visit the Siggraph Pioneers LinkedIn page: http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&discussionID=126899421&gid=1800679&trk=eml-anet_dig-b_nd-pst_ttle-cn&ut=2uMldAcA2eU5g1

More information about becoming a student participant at Siggraph: http://www.siggraph.org/programs/pioneers/student-participation/