Mentorship-Powered Connections Built in St. Louis
Where mentorship, skill-building workshops, and scholarship support are designed to grow careers and strengthen community impact.
Contact us today
Community metrics
Impact by the numbers
From students mentored to jobs secured and scholarships granted, these metrics show our community’s growth.
Networking Events
Workshops and meetups that connect students with mentors, employers, and real opportunities.
Scholarships Awarded
Financial awards that remove barriers and help students focus on learning and career growth.
Students Assisted
Guided one-on-one through goal setting, resumes, interviews, and academic planning.
About us
Connecting professionals and students through mentorship
We build lasting mentor relationships that provide academic guidance, career coaching, networking, workshops, and scholarships for students in St. Louis.
Who We Are
Founded in February 2021 by three friends, we’re a 501(c)(3) run by a volunteer board and mentors serving the Balkan-American community in St. Louis.
Our Mission
We connect experienced professionals with students through mentorship—backed by networking, academic guidance, workshops, events, and scholarships.
Our Vision
A thriving mentorship community that helps young people advance in education and launch successful careers.
Our Approach
We create lasting mentor matches, host skill-building workshops and networking events, award student scholarships, and share academic and professional resources—funded by individual, corporate, foundation, and grant support.
Learn more
Success stories
Real results from mentorships
Meet the mentees who turned mentorships into milestones from internships, jobs, scholarships, and professional connections.
"My name is Irma Kalender, and I am a first generation, second-year Pre-Law student at Maryville University. My journey with the Saint Louis Balkan American Community, also known as STLBAC, began with..."
Irma Kalender
"My name is Majda Civic. I am from Utica, NY. I was introduced to STLBAC through my fiancé (who is from St. Louis) when we brought up the idea of moving. He explained to me the purpose of the organizat..."
Majda Civic
"I learned about Saint Louis Balkan American Connection during my sophomore year at Saint Louis University after meeting with Dr. Alagic. After my initial exposure to it, I quickly wanted to become mor..."
Elma Bjelevac
"I first heard about Saint Louis Balkan American Connection from Dr. Alagic during my sophomore year at Saint Louis University. I was very excited after learning about the organization and its purpose..."
Amir Ugarak
"I originally learned of STLBAC while working with Dr. Alagić last year. As a pre-dental student at SLU, and the first person in my family to be on any sort of pre-professional track, I had no form of..."
Thea Zubovic
"While in school to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I struggled finding preceptors. I emailed and talked directly to countless Psychiatrists and Nurse Practitioners. I was so disc..."
Elma Sahbaz
Read more stories
Pricing
Become a member today
Pick a plan—your membership funds scholarships and mentorship and unlocks mentor matching, events, workshops, and resources.
Bronze
$10
per month
Sign up
Quarterly organizational email updates
Personal invites to all events
Exclusively designed STLBAC pen
Silver
$20
per month
Sign up
Everything in Bronze
Exclusively designed STLBAC mug
Free entrance to community enrichment sessions
Gold
$50
per month
Sign up
Everything in Silver
Exclusively designed STLBAC hat
Tickets to our partnership events
Platinum
$100
per month
Sign up
Everything in Gold
Exclusively designed STLBAC sweatshirt
Invitation to our organizational think tanks
Two tickets to our annual Gala