School names academic peer mentors for 2017-18

Thirteen students will serve as academic peer mentors during the 2017-18 school year at LSMSA.

“Being an academic peer mentor builds character, confidence, compassion and connection as students demonstrate caring in and outside of the classroom,” said Ro Myers, assistant director of academics. “The students will tutor new and returning students during evening study.”

To qualify, students must be exceptional in at least one subject area; demonstrate a genuine desire to help others; have a minimum grade point average of 3.3 for the previous grading period; exhibit satisfactory residential life performance; and earn a satisfactory in work service for the previous grading period.

The peer mentors are Keanu Bartolome, a sophomore from Terrytown; Gabbi Blanchard, a junior from Houma; Luke Boston, a sophomore from Covington; Jojo Deep, a sophomore from Natchitoches; Vrat Joshi, a sophomore from Natchitoches; Manjistha Lakhotia, a sophomore from Lafayette; Lucien Maloney, a sophomore from Mandeville; Bryce Moulton, a junior from Natchitoches; Lily Orgeron, a sophomore from Lockport; Marcus Shallow, a junior from Elton; Trevor Sullivan, a junior from Slidell; Casey Tonnies, a sophomore from Bossier City; and Benjamin Walker, a sophomore from Mandeville.

“I wanted to become an academic peer mentor because I enjoy the challenge of teaching others,” said Jojo Deep. “It is my job to ensure that if a peer comes to me for help, I help him or her to the best of my ability.”

Marcus Shallow wanted to share his experiences, both the successes and failures that he has had in terms of academics at LSMSA, with other students.

“I really want to show my peers that while LSMSA can be challenging, there are many resources and opportunities put in place to help you succeed,” he said.

Casey Tonnies likes helping people work through difficult problems and help them understand why something works.

“As an academic peer mentor, I will be available to students during evening study hours to answer any questions about homework or a class in general,” she said.