Kevin Martinez, Westminster College

Kevin Martinez, a sophomore at Westminster College, is dedicated to bridging the achievement gap for students of color who are historically underrepresented in higher education. To do so, Kevin has taken an active role with the local non-profit organization WeCAN to serve as a mentor to junior high students at a local Title I school. In addition to mentoring, Kevin has recruited mentors among his peers at Westminster College and is actively developing a new student organization of WeCAN mentors. Kevin organizes regular meetings of the mentors and is a liaison with the non-profit. He successfully acquired a Merit Take Action Grant from the Center for Civic Engagement at Westminster College which helps fund mentoring efforts of the WeCAN mentors. He is currently working with WeCAN and the Junior High to organize an assembly to encourage the student body to access resources in preparation for the school’s annual standardized testing period.