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25 peer educators selected to mentor students in KU Learning Communities
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas’ Learning Communities program has selected 25 peer educators for fall 2008.
Peer educators serve as academic mentors and advisers to KU students enrolled in Learning Communities. They also help first-year students transition to college life and assist upper-level students in exploring majors and professions.
Each Learning Communities group typically consists of about 20 students enrolled in two courses and a seminar that focus on a particular theme. Each group has a faculty facilitator and peer educator. The peer educator facilitates academic connections among the linked courses and organizes study groups and programming.
Students enroll in specific learning communities based on their majors, courses taken or experiences related to the overall theme. For fall, about 20 are available. Courses can be used to fulfill requirements in most colleges and professional schools at KU.
Learning Communities are either residential or nonresidential. In residential Learning Communities, the participants and peer educator live on the same floor in student housing. Students in nonresidential Learning Communities may live either on or off campus, and the peer educator arranges meeting times for study groups and social activities.
Of the 25 peer educators hired for 2008-09, two are returning from last year: Lauren Fitzpatrick, Leawood junior, and Clarissa Unger, Colby senior. Unger also was a peer educator in 2006.
The Learning Communities program began in fall 2003 and is part of the Academic Achievement and Access Center within Student Success. Gail James is director of the program, and Linda Dixon is associate director.
Among the benefits of Learning Communities participation are interaction with faculty, other students and peer educators, as well as supplemental learning opportunities in the classroom and in Lawrence. Learning Communities students benefit from smaller classes, which promote connections among courses and activities, boosting their campus experience and potential achievement.
Activities for Learning Communities students are scheduled to begin Tuesday, Aug. 19, during Hawk Week, before fall semester classes start. For more information about Learning Communities, go to www.lc.ku.edu.
The new peer educators are listed below by hometown, major, level in school, parents’ names and high schools.
COWLEY COUNTY
From Winfield 67156
Erin Birney, senior in Spanish, daughter of Donald and Susan Birney; Winfield High School.
ELLIS COUNTY
From Hays 67601
Mark Harbaugh, sophomore preparing to study nursing, son of Jody Harbaugh; Hays High School.
HARVEY COUNTY
From Burrton 67020
Melissa Morris, sophomore in communication studies, daughter of Timothy and Brenda Morris; Halstead High School.
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66204
Lauren Fitzpatrick, junior in aerospace engineering, daughter of Rory and Riochelle Fitzpatrick; Blue Valley High School, Stilwell.
From Lenexa 66215
Irina Yakhnis, senior in political science, Russian and Eastern European studies and journalism and mass communications (news and information), daughter of Alex Vays and Larisa Yakhnis; Shawnee Mission South High School.
From Lenexa 66219
Nathan Hutchcraft, sophomore in music education, son of Marcus and Winifred Hutchcraft; Shawnee Mission West High School.
From Olathe 66061
Aryn Kamerer, sophomore in speech-language-hearing, daughter of Adam and Judith Kamerer; Olathe Northwest High School.
From Olathe 66062
Seterah Millerlile, senior in biology preparing to study dentistry, daughter of Willliam and Mahta Millerlile; Olathe South High School.
Cassie Smyers, junior in European studies and Germanic languages and literatures, daughter of Robin Smyers; Olathe Northwest High School.
From Overland Park 66213
Nicholas Gregory Mott, sophomore in political science, psychology and theatre and film, son of Gregory and Lisa Mott; Blue Valley Northwest High School.
From Overland Park 66213 and 66223
Elizabeth Mahoney, sophomore in chemical engineering, daughter of Robert Mahoney (66223) and Laurie George (66213); Blue Valley Northwest High School.
From Overland Park 66221
Andrew Dick, sophomore in chemical engineering, son of Todd and Linda Dick; Blue Valley West High School, Stilwell.
From Overland Park 66223
Keiko Arai, sophomore preparing to study business, daughter of Linh and Taysuya Arai; Blue Valley West High School, Stilwell.
From Shawnee 66216
Ashley Barforoush, sophomore preparing to study journalism, daughter of Mohammad and Kathie Barforoush; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.
LYON COUNTY
From Emporia 66801
Tyler Thompson, sophomore in chemical engineering, son of Kenneth and Deborah Thompson; Emporia Senior High School.
MCPHERSON COUNTY
From McPherson 67460 and Mead, Neb.
Torrance Parkins, junior in political science preparing to study law, son of Barbara Brookshire of McPherson and Robert Parkins of Mead, Neb.; McPherson High School.
SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita 67220
Whitney Hobson, junior in sport science preparing to study physical therapy, daughter of Dwayne and Rossa Hobson; Wichita High School Heights.
SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66610
Robert J. Gordy, senior in French and history preparing to study medicine, son of Brent Gordy and Jan Kennedy; Millard South High School, Omaha, Neb.
SHERMAN COUNTY
From Goodland 67735
Michael Smith, sophomore preparing to study business, son of Celia Smith; Goodland High School.
THOMAS COUNTY
From Colby 67701
Clarissa Unger, senior in international studies and political science preparing to study law, daughter of Jeffrey and Marilyn Unger; Colby High School.
CALIFORNIA
From Buena Park 90620
Peter Mancini, junior in secondary education with emphasis in history and government, son of Mary Mancini; John F. Kennedy High School, La Palma, Calif.
GEORGIA
From Fayetteville 30215
Kyle Peterzalek, senior in marketing, son of John and Traci Peterzalek; Starr’s Mill High School, Fayetteville.
NEBRASKA
From Mead 68044 and McPherson, Kan.
Torrance Parkins. See MCPHERSON COUNTY
From Omaha 68130
Megan King, junior in textile design (weaving), daughter of John and Cynthia King; Marian High School, Omaha.
TEXAS
From Port Arthur 77642
Christa Curette, senior in computer engineering, daughter of Beverly Curette; Memorial High School, San Antonio, Texas.
BOLIVIA
From La Paz
Raul Velasco Ramos, junior in petroleum engineering, son of Raul Velasco Ramos and Ela Vania Guachalla Rivero; Instituto Americano, La Paz.
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