Peer mentors chosen for inaugural class of First Scholars at Kansas State University
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
MANHATTAN — Six Kansas State University students will serve as peer mentors to the inaugural class of First Scholars at the university.
Peer mentors are essential to the program as they will assist the First Scholars with their transition to college. The mentors also will help First Scholars develop skills to be successful college students and provide additional support.
Mentors, who are all first-generation college students just like the First Scholars, will receive a $500 stipend per semester and will be involved with planning academic and social activities.
The peer mentors are looking forward to assisting other first-generation students like themselves and will be vital to the First Scholars' success, said Max Williams a junior in kinesiology and pre-occupational therapy, Valley Center, and one of the students selected as a First Scholars peer mentor.
"As mentors, we may not have all the answers, but I am more than excited to share what I do know with the incoming First Scholars," Williams said.
Joining Williams as 2014-2015 peer mentors for First Scholars include: Efren Frayre freshman in business management, Garden City; Armani Williams, sophomore in marketing, Lenexa; Gabriela Chavez, sophomore in biology and premedicine, Ulysses; and Sidney Diec, junior in financial management, and Ken Varela, sophomore in business management, both from Wichita.
Kansas State University is one of seven higher education institutions to be funded by the First Scholars Program. Other institutions include: University of Kentucky; University of Alabama; Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; University of Memphis; Northern Arizona University; and Washington State University.
First Scholars is an initiative of The Suder Foundation, a private foundation located in Plano, Texas. The First Scholars Program provides a holistic approach to increasing the four-year graduation rate of first-generation college students while preparing students for a life with self-awareness, success, and significance. The Suder Foundation provides initial start-up funding, with Kansas State University providing matching funds.
To learn more about the First Scholars Program visit http://www.k-state.edu/firstscholars and stay connected with the program on Twitter @Kstate1stSchol.
