The Retention Project is an AmeriCorps program that is part of the Washington Campus Compact and is a peer-to-peer mentoring program designed to improve the retention and academic advancement of new first-generation and worker retraining students, as well as students who are currently on academic warning or probation. Two AmeriCorps Retention Specialists are currently serving at LWIT in the Advising office.
Retention Specialists
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Academic Advising - Richard Weitzman
Hello, my name is Richard Weitzman and I am the AmeriCorps Student Retention Specialist in LWIT's Advising Office. I provide academic advising services to new and continuing student as well as assisting with retention goals for first generation (students who are the first in their family to attend college) and academically "at-risk" students. I'll also be working with the SHSV interns each quarter.
I grew up in Pennsylvania and recently moved to Seattle from Philadelphia, where I attended Temple University, alma mater to Bill Cosby and Bob Saget; I double-majored in Spanish Linguistics and Mass Communication Theory. I joined AmeriCorps because the idea of national service is important to me, and it's important to help others that may not have had the same opportunities as me. I'm excited to be working at a community/technical college because of the rewarding experiences that so many of my family members have had and at LWIT in particular because of the great attitudes of everyone I've met here.
Contact Richard
West Building, Room W207
(425) 739-8204
richard.weitzman@lwtech.edu
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Worker Retraining - Sydney Self
Hello! I'm Sydney Self and I am excited to be serving as Lake Washington Institute of Technology's AmeriCorps Worker Retaining Retention Specialist for the 2012-2013 academic year. I will be assisting students who are part of our Worker Retraining program, which consists of individuals who are receiving or have expended unemployment benefits within the past two years, have been laid off, have been honorably discharged from military service, or are displaced homemakers and are attending LWIT to gain additional training to assist them in reentering the workforce. I will be additionally co-coordinating the Social and Human Services interns each quarter who will be acting as mentors to other students.
I grew up in a military family and have lived across most of the United States, although I originally hail from Florida. I attended South Puget South Community College in Olympia, WA, where I earned my Direct Transfer Degree. I then transferred to Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA where I continued on to received my Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, my Bachelor's degree in Primate Behavior and Ecology, and my Master's degree in Primate Behavior. I have a strong passion for helping others and am looking forward to this opportunity to help get other students engaged and active in both academia and their communities through service learning projects and mentoring relationships.
Contact Sydney
West Building, Room W207
(425) 739-8100 Ext - 8671
sydney.self@lwtech.edu
Social and Human Services Interns
Winter 2013
The AmeriCorps Retention Specialists work collaboratively with the Social and Human Services program, which provides interns each quarter to mentor new students. These mentors provide academic advising and referrals to campus and community resources. The Retention Specialists not only run the peer-to-peer mentoring program, but also provide one-on-one academic advising to students.
Brittany Morak
Hello, my name is Brittany Morak. I'm currently working on getting my Associate Degree in the Social and Human Services program and Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and hopefully one day I will get my Master's Degree in Social Work, going on to work as a Middle or High School counselor. I have learned a lot from both my professors and my fellow students in the program. I've always been passionate about helping others, and hope to make a difference in the world!
Contact Brittany
brittany.morak@lwtech.edu
Office Hours:
Wednesday: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Madalyn Rantala
Hello, my name is Madalyn and I am in my second year of attendance at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. I am in the high school Academy and am studying Social and Human Services. I have always wanted to do something in life that involves helping people, and now that I have been taking a lot of classes that focus on that, my passion for my future has only grown. My short term goal is to get my Bachelor's degree from Evergreen State University after I am done with schooling here, and my long term involves a Master's Degree from UW and becoming a Chemical Dependency Counselor.
Contact Madalyn
madalyn.rantala@lwtech.edu
Office Hours:
Wednesday: 11:00 am - 1:oo pm
Thursday: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Did you know that Lake Washington Institute of Technology
has AmeriCorps Members on their campus?
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