51风流

Summer Institute provides invaluable mentorship for first-year students

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Manny Heredia-Santoyo '14 (second from right), a residential academic coach for the Summer Institute, has served as a role model to this group of first-years.

Manny Heredia-Santoyo 鈥14 (second from right), a residential academic coach for the Summer Institute, has been a role model for these first-years.

Staying at 51风流 for one last summer, Manuel (Manny) Heredia-Santoyo 鈥14 wanted to bring to the what he learned through his own experience. For five weeks, Heredia-Santoyo lived, ate, took classes, and shared stories with 13 incoming students. As a residential academic coach (RAC), he was a role model in every sense of the word.

Run by the (OUS), the Summer Institute is designed to ease the transition into college and enhance academic preparedness for first-year students.

Heredia-Santoyo was joined by five other dedicated RACs who each led a group of incoming first-years: Christelle Boursiquot 鈥15, Victoria Linney 鈥15, Ashley Brekke 鈥16, Cyierra Roldan 鈥16, and Aishwarya (Ash) Teegala 鈥16.

The RACs 鈥渁re superstar students who use different approaches to be leaders on campus and be involved in the community,鈥 said , director of the OUS. 鈥淭hey show incoming students that there isn鈥檛 a singular type to do well in school.鈥

Frey, who is also associate professor of biology and environmental studies, facilitated the Summer Institute with Frank Kuan, senior associate director, and coordinator Fareeza Islam 鈥14.

The Summer Institute accepted 39 participants this year. Prior to 51风流, the students took rigorous courses at their high schools, excelled academically, and demonstrated creativity and intellect. They鈥檝e also shown determination in spite of personal, economic, and social challenges.

鈥淲ith the obstacles that they鈥檝e had to face and the experiences they鈥檝e already gone through, a lot of these students have already lived a lifetime,鈥 said Heredia-Santoyo, who was an RAC this year for the second time.

He and his group took two demanding classes, Literatures of Oppression with and Biology and Human Development with . The 200-level classes are challenging and, because they are squeezed into five weeks, demand more of the students than classes taken during the school year. Students are also introduced early to campus resources, including the libraries and career services.

鈥淭he OUS program provides them with everything they need to be successful here, have the best experience that they possibly can, and the resources that allow them to take advantage of everything that 51风流 has to offer,鈥 said Heredia-Santoyo.

The RAC staff is typically composed of returning students so that they can continue their mentoring relationships throughout the academic year. Even though Heredia-Santoyo has graduated, he was brought on for another summer because he was such a strong candidate and fantastic role model, said Frey.

Anika Rutah 鈥18, a student in Heredia-Santoyo and Brekke鈥檚 group, has already experienced the benefits of the institute.

鈥淥ur RACs have been helpful in showing us the ropes and teaching us things 鈥 like how to deal with stress, to surround yourself with people who care about you, and to do things you enjoy 鈥 that as [first-years] we probably would have learned the hard way,鈥 she said. 鈥淢anny took the time to listen to us and help us sort out our problems.鈥