(Peru, Neb.) The Peru State College (PSC) Office of Residence Life has selected 15 students to serve as Freshman Experience Program Mentors and Resident Assistants during the 2010-11 academic year. 

The Freshman Experience Program is designed for first-year students who choose to live as a community of learners in Mathews Hall and pledge to remain substance free. Mentors receive extensive training to assist their assigned mentees with issues like self awareness, personal decision making, working and living with others, servant leadership, etc. 

Resident Assistants are required to plan and implement educational social programs. They are front-line resource staff who also receive extensive training on issues that affect the student experience. Resident Assistants must possess skills that enable students around them to become more engaged in their living and learning environment.  

The mentors and resident assistants were selected after completing an extensive application and interview process. To qualify for the positions, students must:

• Have lived in a residence hall for two semesters.
• Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
• Be free from any form of social/academic probation.
• Be willing to work with a diverse group of people.
• Sign a contract for the entire academic year.

Seth Bingham, director of residence halls, said, “I look forward to a successful year with this group of students. It was clear during the interview process that the selected students have the kind of abundant energy and commitment it takes to be successful in their roles. The leadership qualities these students already possess will be refined through activities in our office, putting them ahead of their peers in qualifying for jobs and other future opportunities.”

Mathews Mentors are listed below by hometown along with their year and major.

Nebraska
Burchard
Bailey deKoning, Sophomore – Psychology

Fort Calhoun
Danielle Prchal, Freshman - Psychology

LaVista
Jacob Acers, Sophomore – Psychology

Out-of-State
New York
Canisteo
Jonathan Alvord, Freshman - Pre-Medicine

Resident Assistants are listed below by hometown along with their year and major.

Nebraska
Lincoln
Trevin Nelson, Sophomore – Human Performance and Systems Management

Louisville
Whitney Heard, Sophomore - Elementary Education

Mitchell
Shane Mathis, Senior - Elementary Education

Nebraska City
Madison Farris, Sophomore – Social Science Education

Omaha
William Jackson, Sophomore - History Education
Jennifer Trapp, Freshman - Art Education

Wausa
Adam DeBilzan, Junior - Elementary Education
Promise Nelson, Junior - Business Administration/Accounting

Out-of-State
Iowa
Atlantic
Oran Perkins, Junior – Criminal Justice Administration

Farragut
Meagan Wood, Senior – Psychology

Wyoming
Cheyenne
Kimberly Miller, Sophomore - Language Arts Education