The Outstanding STEP Peer Mentors

STEP is a coaching and mentoring program for first-year, Pell Grant-eligible students at Salem State.  We utilize a high-touch, relational model of support and have found that with our populations, this method is successful at helping them retain in college. Each year we hire 7 - 10 peer mentors to help support the incoming first-year student cohort.  These mentors are past participants of the program and are assigned 8-12 first-year STEP students whom they support throughout the school year. These students are typically paid through Work Study funds.  On occasion, a well qualified mentor does not qualify for work study (often because of other financial aid they have worked hard to secure).  In order to have the freedom to hire those mentors who are the best mentors for the job, we are creating a "help fund a STEP Peer Mentor" account.  Will you consider supporting our cause?

This is an especially special initiative as we celebrate our 10th year this year.  Considering the STEP peer mentors are the backbone of the program, there is no better way to honor this milestone than to focus on supporting our amazing peer mentors.

Throughout our crowdfunding campaign we will be featuring students and alumni who have been positively impacted by the experience of having a STEP Peer Mentor. They have either been mentored or served as a mentor or both. Consider these outstanding students!  These are the students who will grow from this mentoring experience into flourishing alumni engaged in their vocation and local community.  These are current and future leaders and worth investing in for the sake of their future.