September 2025 Peer Mentor Of The Month
Kazi led an outreach initiative to recruit international students as mentors for the Fall semester. At an NVCC campus event, he enthusiastically promoted College Steps to everyone he met. Beyond recruitment, he consistently goes above and beyond in supporting his students. His efforts have engaged students and fostered a strong sense of community among both students and mentors.
April 2025 Peer Mentor Of The Month
Meet Saad Khan, our April “Mentor of the Month.” Saad has been a mentor for College Steps since March of 2024. He is currently working towards completing his associate degree in Engineering with a focus on Computer Engineering. Saad always arrives to work with a smile and does an exceptional job of supporting the students he works with. He has a great ability of connecting with others and is thoughtful and kind in all of his interactions with students. He has a great gift of connecting with students and finding meaningful ways of building them up and working together. It does not take long from working with Saad to see that he cares greatly about others and wants to help lead students to becoming the best versions of themselves. He is a wonderful resource for students, helping them homework plan, make sense of assignments, and find ways of breaking tasks into manageable steps. Saad has also helped with supporting students in utilizing resources on campus, like connecting with tutors for additional help with homework and prepping for exams. Not only has Saad done an outstanding job in his role as a mentor supporting students, but he has also gone above and beyond as the Program Support Specialist for CS at Brightpoint. In this position, Saad has contributed exceptional work supporting multiple student sessions and equipping his fellow mentors with the best strategies and resources for empowering students. Not only has Saad done an outstanding job in his role as a mentor supporting students, but he also received a promotion to be a Program Support Specialist for CS at Brightpoint. Tommy Murphy, Program Manager at Brightpoint, says, “Saad is an absolute joy to work with. His dedication to bettering the lives of our students is truly inspiring and I could not be more grateful to have him on our team!”
May 2025 Peer Mentor Of The Month
Kaitlin is a junior at American International College (AIC), majoring in Education and minoring in Psychology. Kaitlin consistently provides a positive learning environment where students can socially and academically thrive. Kaitlin is compassionate and intentional with her approach, and always thinking of each individual she supports. Thank you for all your good work!
June 2025 Peer Mentor Of The Month
Sumaia has been a committed mentor with College Steps since October 2023. Sumaia is actively pursuing a degree in Health Science and plans to become a nurse. We observe that Sumaia shows up each day with a warm smile and a genuine passion for helping students succeed. Thank you, Sumaia, for always making sessions enjoyable and helping students feel at home on campus.
March 2025 Peer Mentor Of the Month
Congratulate this Month’s Mentor of the Month! Camila’s dedication, leadership, and enthusiasm have made a meaningful impact on our students and the College Steps community. This semester, she has gone above and beyond by organizing our Valentine’s Day activity, creating a fun and inclusive environment for everyone. She also shared a piece of her culture by frequently bringing in Brazilian snacks, giving students and mentors a unique experience. Additionally, Camila has been an active supporter of the Anime Club, helping to foster a welcoming space where students can connect over shared interests. Her kindness, reliability, and commitment to mentorship set her apart. Camila’s ability to uplift and engage students makes her an invaluable part of our team.
December 2024 Peer Mentor Of The Month
Ahmed Saeed has been a mentor with College Steps since January 2024 and has been a wonderful contribution to the NOVA- Loudoun campus. He will be graduating after this semester with a degree in Business Administration from Northern Virginia Community College and will be attending George Mason University in the Spring to major in Business Management in Information systems. Ahmed is such a dedicated mentor and is always willing to go above and beyond for our program and students. He comes to the office early for his shifts and even hangs out with students/ other mentors when not on the clock. He always has a smile on his face and has built wonderful relationships with many students. He helps with many different subjects and is such a kind-hearted person. Ahmed is extremely creative when it comes to social sessions and is great at engaging students in any kind of game. Ahmed also works as a Math tutor on campus and uses that patience and understanding for our students. He has been a wonderful mentor helping in multiple ways. We have been deeply grateful to have Ahmed on our team and will miss him greatly next semester!
January 2025 Peer Mentor Of The Month
Janelle is a first semester mentor, but it already seems like she has always been a part of the CCM family much longer. This is especially striking because Janelle actually attends Kean University, she volunteered to commute to CCM between classes to fill a mentor shortage for that program! Janelle is 100% present and invested in every shift she works. She takes the time to connect with students and form a warm trusting relationship, at the same time modeling professional boundaries and positive work habits. Janelle is quick to identify areas where students may need support and to adapt her approach to match their learning styles. She is also very generous with sharing her knowledge with fellow mentors to collaborate and provide a consistent team approach to student support. Janelle’s Major is Business Management & Entrepreneurship and her career goal is “to become an entrepreneur that changes people’s lives”. Well, she is making a great start!
February 2025 Peer Mentor Of The Month
February’s Mentor of the Month – Liji Varghese from RCC. Liji has been an integral part of College Steps for the past two years, and from the very beginning, has demonstrated exceptional mentorship skills. Liji stands out as a leader among her peers, takes initiative and puts in the effort to genuinely connect with the students she works with. Her ability to build rapport with students really shows her dedication and passion for her role. It’s been a true privilege to witness her growth, both personally and professionally.
