From Gerardo Ruiz, Veteran Services Coordinator, Johnson County Community College: “Ian has been instrumental in driving the success of the PAVE program for our incoming students this past fall semester. Through his proactive and consistent outreach, he has connected students to critical resources and encouraged engagement on campus, ensuring students feel supported and connected. Ian’s efforts also extended beyond student support; he recruited a new Peer Advisor for the upcoming spring semester, further strengthening our team and enhancing the program’s reach. His dedication and leadership have set a high standard for our PAVE team as we kick off this Spring semester.”

From Ian McKenzie: “ My favorite parts about being a Peer Advisor are that I am able to help the students and get to meet and get connected with so many new people. I feel a duty to my peers to help them with their endeavors here at JCCC. When I first arrived at college, I was fresh out of the military and had no bearing on where I needed to start. Since making my first call to the Veteran’s Office here at JCCC and being connected to PAVE, I’ve had nothing but support from the get-go. My first PAVE advisor was Yassin Ali, who went above and beyond for me. He made sure I felt included and comfortable in that weird first semester. Supporting him was Gerardo Ruiz, the PAVE program coordinator for us at JCCC. Having someone checking in on me consistently made it feel like I had the support and the resources needed to push me towards my goals. I hope I am able to help every student I talk to as much as I was helped.”