Meet Our Peer Mentors

Ben Erickson '26, Peer Mentor Leader

• Hometown: Northbrook, IL
• Majors: History 
• Minors: Anthropology
• Involvement: Phi Delta Theta President, Wellness Advocacy Coach, SGA
• I chose to be a peer mentor because I want to make a positive impact on campus and help the incoming students with their transition into life at college. 

Bryson Ostrum '26, Peer Mentor Leader

• Hometown: Hagerstown, MD
• Major: Physics/engineering dual degree program
• Involvement: Peer Mentor Leader, Student events board, Pride in athletics club
• I chose to be a peer mentor due to the incredible impact the program has for incoming students and the Washington college community as a whole. The never ending networking and family like relationships with new people on campus, it’s a no brainer to be apart of the team.

Ziggy Angelos '25

• Hometown: Monkton, MD/Chicago IL
• Majors: Psychology and Art double major!
• Involvement: Peer Mentor, Exec board of SAGE, Zeta tau alpha, The Collegian Art director
• To support new students in their transition and make change at WAC! (Ps: I love my coworkers!)

Daniella Amores Urrea '28

• Hometown: 
• Majors: 
• Minor: 
• Involvement: 
•  

Joe Atkins '28

• Hometown: 
• Majors: 
• Minor: 
• Involvement: 
•  

Kya Balin-Brooks '26

• Hometown:  Rockville, MD
• Majors: International Studies and Anthropology double major
• Minor: n/a
• Involvement: Women's rowing, George's General (Admissions), SGA Senator, Lambda Alpha vice president
• My freshman year was largely shaped by my peer mentor because she pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be as involved or open as I am now. I wanted to be able to have the same impact on future classes because without the Peer Mentor program, I would be in a completely different place in college.

Avery Bourdeau '28

• Hometown: Herndon, VA
• Majors: Psychology
• Minor: n/a
• Involvement: Women's rowing
• I chose to be a peer mentor because I wanted to contribute to the supportive community that Washington College has by helping first year students connect and feel valued!

Sultan Darilmaz '28

• Hometown: Laurel, DE
• Majors: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (pre-dental)
• Minor: Business
• Involvement: Class of 2028 vice president, HOSA community service chair
• I wanted to become a peer mentor because it played such an important role in my own transition from high school to college. My FYS group helped me feel supported, and it’s where I met many of my closest friends. I hope to help new WAC students feel just as welcomed, supported, and comfortable as they begin their first year!

Kai Follett '27

• Hometown: Media, PA
• Majors:  English
• Minor: Secondary Education
• Involvement: Secretary of Student Life at the SGA, Vice President of Programming & Enrichment for Alpha Omicron Pi, and Secretary of the Dance Club
• I had such a strong connection with my Peer Mentor. She was such a large help during my transition to college and has become one of my close friends. I want to pay it forward and provide the same connection and great experiences for the incoming class.

Sofia Garcia '28

• Hometown: 
• Majors: 
• Minor: 
• Involvement: 
•  

Gracelyn Goforth '26

• Hometown: King, NC
• Majors: Political science
• Minor: Philosophy 
• Involvement: Captain on the softball team, SGA, SAAC, 2026 class secretary
• I chose to become a peer mentor because my peer mentors helped me feel welcome my first year and I want to help incoming people have an amazing experience 

Zachary Gottemoller '27

• Hometown: Glenside, PA
• Majors: Mathematics
• Minor: 
• Involvement: Kappa Sigma, WACappella, QSC tutor
• I became a peer mentor because I had a great peer mentor who helped me transition into college life, and I wanted to help incoming students with that transition. I know that it can difficult to transition from high school to college, and I am here to help.

Karol Guamanzara '27

• Hometown: Queens, NY
• Majors: Biology and Hispanic Studies 
• Minors: chemistry and public health  
• Involvement: Equestrian team/club, a Washington scholar and part of LSU  
• Since my peer mentor played a significant role my freshman year, I decided to become a peer mentor in order to support new freshmen into having a smooth transition into college and making connections.

Myla Harrell '28

• Hometown: Craig, Colorado
• Majors: Economics
• Minor: 
• Involvement: George's General (Admissions), French Club
• I wanted to be a peer mentor because I hoped to help other students have a positive transition from high school to college. I want to help welcome new WAC students so they can feel supported and comfortable in this new environment.

Tiyaba Jamil '27

• Hometown: Halethorpe, MD
• Majors: Chemistry and Psychology double major
• Involvement: co-president of ACS, SEB member, honor board panelist 
• I became a peer mentor because my experience with the program as a first year incoming student allowed me to transition to WAC more comfortably, and I want to pay the experience I had forward to incoming students!

Jessica Kelso '27

• Hometown: 
• Majors: 
• Minor: 
• Involvement: 
•  

Justin Looper '26

• Hometown: Mount Airy, MD
• Majors: Biology
• Minor: Chemistry and Chesapeake Regional Studies minors
• Involvement: SGA secretary of the environment, George's General (Admissions), Chess Connections vice president
• I wanted to be a peer mentor because I want to help others learn to love Washington College as much as I do. The transition from high school can be different, and it truly makes me happy to be able to help others adjust to this new environment.

Tommy Lundy '27

• Hometown: Denville, NJ
• Majors: Economics
• Minor: 
• Involvement: Kappa Sigma
• I wanted to become a peer mentor because my freshman year I was immediately welcomed and brought into the wider campus community by others who were enthusiastic about getting to know me and making me feel at home. I hope that I can help facilitate this environment going forward, and help make new students feel as welcome as I did.

Calynn Nelson '28

• Hometown: Reston, VA
• Majors: Political Science
• Minor: 
• Involvement: PoliTalks board memebr, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship leader
• I had a great transition experience at WAC because of the peer mentor team and wanted to help other people have that experience too! I've also changed schools frequently so I know how important a supportive environment is for new students.

Cara Olivarez '26

• Hometown: Felton, DE
• Major: Sociology
• Minor: Public Health 
• Involvement:  Alpha Omicron Pi, President of the class of 2026, member of SGA, Honor Board panelist, Peer Mentor, and I am a Presidential Fellows
• I became a Peer Mentor because I had the best experience with my peer mentors. They were always there when I needed them, and they were so helpful through the transition process of coming to college.

Lauren Paules '26

• Hometown: Blandon, PA
• Majors: Biology (pre-vet track) 
• Minors: Chemistry and Dance
• Involvement: Captain on the women’s swim team, class of 2026 treasurer, SGA senator, honor board panelist, Biology Lab TA, chemistry tutor, dance club, cater society fellow
• I chose to be a peer mentor because I want to be a go-to person for any incoming student in this new and exciting part of their lives and be able to watch them make life-long connections.

Faith Poulton '26

• Hometown: Kennett Square, PA
• Majors: Sociology 
• Minors: Justice Law and Society and Social Welfare
• Involvement: I am the VP1/treasurer of Zeta Tau Alpha. I am a member of WACapella and a senator in our school’s student government association. I am the social media chair for EROS and am involved in the theatre department here at WAC. I am also a George’s General.
• I chose to be a peer mentor because my own peer mentors were so integral to my success here at Washington College and I wanted to be that person for incoming students.

Mckenna Praglowski '28

• Hometown: 
• Majors: 
• Minor: 
• Involvement: 
•  

Jireh Ray '27

• Hometown: Bel Air, MD
• Majors: Sociology/Black Studies & Social Welfare
• Involvement: Cleopatra's Sisters, Equestrian Team, Black Student Union
• I want to help make a positive lasting impact on incoming freshmen.

Kelsey Sanderell '27

• Hometown: Malvern, PA
• Majors: Physics & Environmental Science
• Involvement: Class of 2027 Vice President, Organizations Committee Chair (SGA), Women's Rowing Team, Alumni-Student Relations Committee Student Representative, Presidential Fellow
• I really wanted to help new students and play a role in making campus a fun place for everyone!

Zach Tipton '27

• Hometown: Gettysburg, PA
• Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (pre-med)
• Minor: Public Health, German
• Involvement: SGA President, swim team manager, founder of the Shoreline Socials, president of the American society of biochemistry chapter, and treasurer of HOSA
• I had a fantastic positive experience with my FYS and peer mentor that had a lasting impact on my relationships and involvement in my first year, which all led me to want to join the team and provide that to incoming first years!

Mel Tuerk '26

• Hometown: Allentown, PA
• Major: Anthropology and Env Studies
• Minor: Chesapeake Regional Studies and Museum, Field, and Community Education
• Involvement: EROS & SAGE exec board member, George's General (Admissions), senator in SGA, Lambda Alpha president, anthropology club president
• My peer mentors were a big part of my transition into the WAC community and I wanted to do my part for the students coming in after me!

Terrance Vincent '27

• Hometown: New Orleans, LA
• Major: Neuroscience
• Involvement: Men’s basketball, Voter Engagement, BSU, Presidential Fellow, Intercultural Ambassador 
• I wanted to help people feel heard, comfortable, and represented as much as possible, all while meeting new people and learning new things.