From Kaily White, Team Leader, University of Washington – Tacoma: “Tasha Martin has dedicated her already busy schedule as a student, mother, and employee to growing the PAVE program here at the University of Washington – Tacoma campus. She is constantly reaching out to the off-campus community to bring in resources and support to our military-connected students. This includes setting up workshops and donations with our local credit unions and VFW offices. She is just as supportive of the Peer Advisors who seek her guidance on how to help their students. She sets up routine meetings to check in and see how we are doing, as well as providing us resources we can pass on through our check in with advisees. Every time I see her on campus she is doing something for PAVE. Whether that’s going to or from a meeting, taking notes, or talking with her advisees. I know this means she’s doing long hours of studying for her degree at home, all while being a mother of three. She is an essential asset to our team here at the University of Washington – Tacoma campus.”

From Tasha Martin: “My favorite part about being a PAVE Team Leader is how I am able to work with and build connections with military-connected students and give them the support they need in order to be successful during their time in school. It is important that students feel like they have a support system in place they can count on. It’s rewarding knowing there are students that I can relate to and I am able to offer them positive support to meet their needs. One of my proudest accomplishments for the quarter is how we were able to network and connect with more resources both on and off campus to make the program more exciting to join and have more student involvement. Also, building a reliable and energetic team of Peer Advisors who are willing to go above and beyond for our students is one of my proudest accomplishments for our team.”