Kawerak peer mentor program pairs Bering Strait first-year students with experienced peers

Kawerak's Peer Mentor Program pairs first- and second-year students from Bering Strait communities with third- or fourth-year mentors at universities in Anchorage and Fairbanks, targeting the transition year when distance from family, cultural adjustment, and academic pressure arrive together. Mentors support students through personal, family, school, and financial challenges, providing a built-in network at a time when students need it most.

Roberta Miller, a University of Alaska Fairbanks master's student from Unalakleet who served as a mentor, described the work as grounded in small reinforcements. "Just getting out of bed and attending class is an achievement in itself- so just recognizing that accomplishing these small little goals is something to be proud of. I keep encouraging them that small goals help in the long run," Miller said. Martin Olson, from Golovin, said his mentor encouraged him to make the most of college opportunities: "Because of their advice, I was able to achieve a lot in my first year of college and even got to study abroad in Japan." Olson also noted that the program connected him with others who shared similar regional experiences and could understand challenges that someone who had not lived in the Bering Strait region might not.

How to Connect

The June 30 mentee deadline has passed. Families can follow future cycles and access the application at kawerak.org/peermentor.