Working hand in hand with incoming and second-year students, Southern Utah University’s Aces serve as student mentors for incoming freshmen. The Aces, formerly known as O-leaders or leads, provide students with resources, connections and tips on how to succeed as a student.
Originally, the group would just help with orientation, but now they do much more than that. In addition to helping freshmen meet students with similar interests, the Aces also make themselves available to students throughout the day in a place called The Nest. As the home of the Aces, The Nest serves as an important location for students with questions.
“The O-leaders walked so that the Aces could run,” Ace Logan Eteuati said. “If you have any questions, The Nest is one of the places to get answers.”
Starting in the months leading up to the semester, Aces reach out to students to welcome them to campus and give them a way to navigate the semester with confidence.
“We are basically your first friend here at SUU. We are a support system to students,” said Eteuati. “Aces are just a resource here on campus to help incoming freshmen or students. We are trained to connect you to different resources.”
Located in The Nest in the student center, the Aces serve as a one-stop shop for students. When it comes to registration, questions, needing a nook to do homework or even a place to hang out, The Nest is where to be. Each one of the Aces is prepared and willing to answer any questions students might have and help solve any problems.
Not only do Aces help students with academic questions, but they also strive to get students involved on campus by hosting an event each week. These mentors spend a lot of time planning and preparing events to help students get to know each other.
“We started implementing events in The Nest, trying to get students more involved by doing weekly events,” said Eteuati. “We try to run an event each week that helps students get connected on campus. I really love it.”
With many different groups on campus, students can feel overwhelmed and overlooked, but the Aces work together to do what is best for the students. As students themselves, they have an in-depth understanding of a college student’s schedule that allows them to tailor events to the needs of T-Birds.
“We are not perfect human beings, I will admit that. We all have our own personalities. We are just normal students who are able to help others,” stated Eteuati. “We’re all just students like everyone else, and I feel like our bonds are very strong.”
As SUU’s student help center, The Nest provides the Aces with a central location on campus where students can hang out and get guidance. Each student can rely on their Ace for help leading up to graduation, including learning about registration and payments. As a support system on campus, they try to check in on the social, emotional and academic well-being of each of their assigned students.
“We work with every group on campus, mainly the academic advising office and STIL. Jared Tippets is like the main boss,” shared Eteuati. “We are able to share our knowledge pretty well, and we have no problem with people coming in and just hanging out.”
With a little help from the Aces, students can get more involved on campus, find jobs, gain study habits and even navigate roommate or relationship conflicts. For introverted students, the Aces can assist them with meeting individuals with common hobbies.
“I chose to become an Ace because I really love to help others. I had a lot of resources and stuff shown to me, and that has branched off to so many new mutual friends that have helped throughout my first year of college,” said Eteuati. “Since I have gained a lot of knowledge and was in the same position as new incoming college students, the Aces program was a good way to help project all of the things I have learned from my first year to share with the incoming college students.”
As an Ace, there is a mission to treat students in a respectful manner that will lead to the success of each person inside and outside of the classroom. Not only does this provide students with a more successful college experience, but it can also contribute to one’s career path and the feeling of a more successful life.
Whether it be advocating for a student, sharing where to find resources or even giving guidance, the Aces are a friend for T-Birds. As fellow classmates, the Aces are a good source of support and friendship on the SUU campus.
Each Ace encourages students to reach out and participate in activities that they are interested in. If students have a problem, these mentors can give them answers or help point them in the right direction. They also share reminders of campus events to support the hard work put in by colleagues and friends.
When it comes to college, the Aces share their advice on how to make the most of the SUU experience.
“Just be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you are not because it won’t come off as genuine, Eteuati said. “Just be genuine and be yourself.”
Author: Anna Mower
Photos Courtesy of Kade Simmons & Logan Eteuati
life@suunews.net
This article was originally published in the December 2023 edition of the University Journal.
