“Empowering and supporting every student through strong role models” isn’t just a tagline at Code Knights it’s the foundation of everything we do. Since our founding in 2024 by Goktug Bas, we’ve witnessed firsthand how positive mentorship can transform educational outcomes and personal development for underprivileged students. Let’s explore why role models are central to our mission and how they’re making a difference.
Why Role Models Matter
The impact of a strong role model in a student’s life cannot be overstated. For many underprivileged students, seeing someone who has overcome similar challenges and achieved success provides something invaluable: a blueprint for what’s possible.
Research consistently shows that students with positive role models:
- Develop greater self-confidence and ambition
- Set higher educational and career goals
- Show improved academic performance
- Develop better coping mechanisms for obstacles
- Build stronger social and emotional skills
At Code Knights, we believe that every student—regardless of their background or circumstances deserves access to these transformative relationships.
From Peers to Mentors: The Code Knights Origin Story
The seed for Code Knights was planted when Goktug Bas and his friends from Ridgewood High School and Bergen County Academies discovered something powerful in their friendships. Beyond just socializing, they found tremendous value in teaching and learning from each other.
This peer to peer education created a unique dynamic where students could see themselves reflected in their teachers making learning more relatable, accessible, and inspiring. What began as friends helping friends has evolved into a structured mentorship program that maintains that same spirit of connection and mutual growth.
Building Bridges Through Mentorship
Our mentors do more than teach chess moves or coding syntax. They serve as bridges between students’ current realities and future possibilities. Many of our mentors come from backgrounds similar to the students they guide, allowing them to connect on a deeper level.
One mentor shared: “When I tell students about my journey the challenges I faced and how I overcame them I can see something click. Suddenly, they’re not just learning a skill; they’re seeing a path forward for themselves.”
This connection is especially crucial for underprivileged students who may lack exposure to professionals in technology and other STEM fields. By connecting with mentors who share similar backgrounds but have navigated paths to success, students gain both practical guidance and emotional support.
Beyond Academic Support
While academic skills are important, our mentorship model extends far beyond chess strategies and programming concepts. Our mentors provide:
Emotional Support: Creating safe spaces for students to express doubts, fears, and aspirations
Cultural Navigation: Helping students understand and navigate educational institutions and professional environments that may be unfamiliar
Life Skills Development: Fostering time management, goal-setting, and resilience
Network Expansion: Introducing students to broader communities and opportunities they might not otherwise access
Validation and Encouragement: Recognizing potential and providing the encouragement needed to pursue ambitious goals
Creating a Ripple Effect
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of our mentorship model is its sustainability. We’ve seen remarkable examples of students who began as mentees and grew into mentors themselves, creating a ripple effect that extends our impact far beyond our direct reach.
This cycle of empowerment—where students become role models for others—amplifies our mission. Each student who finds success through mentorship becomes a living example of what’s possible, inspiring countless others in their community.
Join Our Community of Role Models
Code Knights is more than a nonprofit—we’re a community of people who believe in the power of mentorship to change lives. Whether you’re an experienced professional in chess or coding, a college student with skills to share, or someone who simply believes in our mission, there’s a place for you in our community.
By becoming a mentor with Code Knights, you don’t just teach a skill—you become a living example of possibility. You show underprivileged students that their dreams are valid and achievable, regardless of their starting point.
And for those who can’t mentor directly, supporting our mission helps us continue providing free access to our online learning hub, expanding our reach to more students who need strong role models in their lives.
The Future Starts with a Role Model
At Code Knights, we envision a future where every student has access to empowering role models who can guide them toward success. Through our free online learning platform and dedicated mentorship program, we’re working to make that vision a reality—one student at a time.
Because we believe that with the right guidance and support, every student has the potential to excel, to inspire, and to become a role model themselves.