By Collin Bouressa, Daniel Bestul, Olivia Kjorlien, & Samuel Drake
The New Scholars Rising program aims to support first-generation and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and multicultural) students by providing them with academic, emotional, psychosocial, relational, and professional support. The program achieves this through engagement with academic, peer, community, and professional mentors who are committed to establishing long-term relationships with the students.
Founded in the fall of 2020 by Christine Smith, Ph.D., a professor in psychology, and Hanette Kamanda, an undergraduate student, the program’s ultimate goal is to help students develop a sense of belonging and thrive at UW-Green Bay. Dr. Smith talked about the reason New Scholars Rising exists, citing that first-generation students and BIPOC students are statistically less likely to finish college. By offering a comprehensive support system, the program aims to address the unique challenges they face, ensuring their success and well-being throughout their first year of college.
Students who are a part of the program are offered a $400 scholarship for participating in the program. To earn the scholarship, the mentees must check in with the mentor each week and meet with them once a month. Throughout the semester, they need to attend any three campus events and participate in one social event, and they need to meet with their advisor or a faculty member. All of that over a semester to ensure the mentees get the most out of the experience.
New Scholars Rising has steadily increased student participation since their inception. In the fall of 2021, the program handed out six scholarships, and in the most recently completed semester, the fall of 2023, the program gave 18 students financial assistance. The program currently hosts 23 mentees who hope to continue the positive trajectory the program is taking.
Students who wish to join New Scholars Rising as a mentee have to apply. The mentor applicants are interviewed by student intern Malek Zaatrah and founder Dr. Christine Smith. Mentors also have their grades checked, and their professors are interviewed by both program leaders to see if they have “mentor quality.”
At first, Dr. Smith would procure mentors from her Psychology 492 class, and once the program became more well-known and more successful word-of-mouth drew more interest. Now, professors reach out to Dr. Smith with students whom they recommend to make good mentors. Former mentees have also become mentors since the program is now entering its fourth year.
One mentor who has been in this program is Celiese Jones. She joined her freshman year after she was introduced to the program by Dr. Christine Smith. Celise joined her freshman year as a mentee and worked her way up to become a mentor. As a mentee, Celise said that this program has really helped her transition to college. As a student of color, she thinks that it helped her to have someone who can relate to her and her major. Although she did not know her mentor at first, they were able to create a friendship.
Another mentor who is a part of New Scholars Rising is senior Adan Cordova. During First-Gen Celebration week, Cordova was awarded the student leader award. UW-Green Bay hosted an inaugural First-Gen Impact Awards to recognize faculty, staff, students, and programs that are making a positive impact on first-generation students.
Cordova spends his time mentoring by guiding mentees through campus. Such things include scheduling appointments, scheduling a tutor, joining a club, and just showing the mentees the ropes of college. Cordova became a mentor because he wished he had some for his first year.
“I like to help, and I wish that I had a mentor to guide me through my first year of college. I met Cindy Johnson, who works at the Multicultural Resource Center. She was very helpful, so when I heard about BIPOC R.I.S.E. (now known as New Scholars Rising), I knew I had to do it to help others and find a way to give back.”
Malek Zaatrah is the current student intern for the New Scholars Rising program. Zaatrah is a part of the social work program at UW-Green Bay and is completing his year-long internship placement by working with New Scholars Rising. Zaatrah is also a mentor in the program. He became a mentor because of a familial connection. Zaatrah said, “My mother also used to be a part of the program and encouraged me to join. She and I were mentors at the same time, and that was a great experience.”
Zaatrah welcomes the additional responsibility that comes with being a mentor. He talked about that responsibility, “I have people who depend on me to be a good example for them, and I have to pull my weight if we want this program to be successful.” New Scholars Rising has also empowered him to be a leader. In the past, he would have considered himself more of a follower, but now he has “to take initiative” and “set examples.” Zaatrah also said the program has allowed him to be the best person that he could be and that he’s always learning because no two experiences are alike.
The New Scholars Rising program is there to help those first-generation and BIPOC students thrive in any circumstance. With the mission to help and exceed college goals, the New Scholars Rising program is willing to help achieve those goals.
