“The Minnesota State Moorhead (MSUM) PAVE team has hit the ground running this term with an energetic and enthusiastic approach to peer support. They have continued to grow their team while also providing consistent outreach and engagement with their students, exemplifying their dedication to supporting student veterans,” says Emma Czajka, PAVE Program Coordinator.

Moorehead currently has 325 military-connected students enrolled this term. Their team includes Veterans Services Coordinators Joshua (Josh) Clarke, Danelle Wolnik, and Aaron Krenz, Team Leader Kiyara Turner, and Peer Advisors Madalynn Hopkins, Abigail Kor, Grace Schmidt, and Abigale Strandlie. Together, the MSUM PAVE team is able to serve all 325 military-connected students.

MSUM has recently relaunched the PAVE program and is focusing on building a strong network of community and support for its military-connected students on campus. According to Josh, they are involved with their Student Veterans Club and local chapter of SVA because it “gives students a real sense of community,” which can also help to increase enrollment and retention. Additionally, to facilitate more academic connections, there are monthly meetings set up between Kiyara, Danelle, and career navigators from MSUM, which “helps inform the career navigators and lets them provide information and feedback from the academic side,” says Aaron.

The Peer Advisors are also able to use a school messaging program that allows the PAVE team to see answers to questions that other Peer Advisors have given, creating a sort of knowledge base, according to Danelle. This approach has proven successful, creating a positive difference for their military-connected students, ranging from freshman to graduate students. One such student was a non-traditional adult-learner who felt alone on campus, but when Abby Strandlie reached out, he was extremely grateful for the connection and the built-in community that PAVE offers. Abby also left the interaction feeling that it was “ very validating that, like, I’m doing something good and impacting their life.”

Keep up the great work, MSUM PAVE team!