Meet our Mentors!

Abbie Armbrecht

Year:  Senior

Hometown:  Cleveland, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Accounting and Dance.

Other Involvements:  Pi Sigma Epsilon and Dance Connection.

What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring?
The opportunity to answer questions and get to know students that are in similar positions as I was just a few years ago!

Emily Beer

Year:  Sophomore

Hometown:  Powell, Ohio

Major:  Neuroscience

Other Involvements:  Biological Sciences Scholars and Office Assistant.

Why did you join the club? 
I wanted to make a difference in my community and I think financial literacy is something that is often not taught in school (that should be!)

Emma Bolt

Year:  Junior

Hometown:  Akron, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Industrial Systems Engineering and Studio Arts.

Other Involvements:  Pi Sigma Epsilon business fraternity, Institute of Industrial Systems Engineers, and Fisher Cares.

Why did you join the club?
I love volunteering and wanted to get more involved in the community!

Marisa Bradley

Year:  Senior

From:  Richfield, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Consumer and Family Financial Services (minor in Design Thinking).

Other Involvements:  Phi Sigma Pi, Student Leadership Advocates, and Student Financial Planning Association.

What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring? 
I really like how Empower Mentoring reaches out to high school students about these topics. I think it’s important information that many schools do not touch upon in high school.

Aaron Brown

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Akron, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Marketing Major w/ Minor in Engineering Sciences.

Other Involvements:  Mount Leadership Society Scholars; Morrill Scholar.

What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring?
I LOVE the professional development focus Empower Mentoring propels for the students. Students deserve to know the opportunities out there post-graduation and have the tools necessary to achieve them.

Ben Burger

Year:  Junior

From:  Rockville, Maryland

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Exercise Science Major, Pharmaceutical Sciences Minor, Pre-Dental Track.

Other Involvements:  Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry Campus Ambassador, Undergrad Volunteer at Wexner Medical Center for COVID-19 Testing, Physiology and Cell Biology Undergrad Lab Volunteer, and Pre-Dental Club.

What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring? 
Interacting with high school student as a college student because EM gives me the platform to teach personal finance and much more depending on the interests of the students.

Olivia Chaney

Year:  Senior

From:  Wadsworth, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Major: Accounting / Minor: Communication.

Other Involvements:  Pi Sigma Epsilon and Internal audit intern at State Auto Insurance.

What are your goals for the future of the club? 
I want to help students create a solid plan for their future. I hope to work with multiple students on developing a strategy for them to succeed after high school! Everyone‘s goals are different and I want to help contribute to them meeting those goals.

Wajih Choudhury

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Dayton, Ohio

Major:  Neuroscience

Other Involvements:  College Mentors for Kids and the Ohio Staters.

Why did you join the club? 
I want to be a role model for these kids, and help them understand the importance of secondary education and financial responsibility.

Siddarth Dasaraju

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Columbus, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Biology Major/Clinical Psycology Minor.

Other Involvements:  Hosa, Medlife, and Intramural Soccer.

What are your goals for the future of the club? 
I hope to make every student feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the college application process and financial literacy. At the end of the day, if I developed friendships with the students and made them feel like they have someone they can count on to help them, I’m satisfied with the club’s involvement.

Holly Desmond

Year:  Junior

Hometown:  Evanston, Illinois

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Neuroscience and Spanish.

Other Involvements:  Phi Sigma Epsilon, Best Buddies, Women’s Club Volleyball at OSU, and Medlife.

Why did you join the club?
I wanted to join to give back to the community I go to school in. I also want to learn more about Columbus Public Schools being from a public school near Chicago. I love learning about new backgrounds and new people.

Abby Ewing

Year:  Freshman.

From: Cincinnati, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Special Education & Psychology, Minor in spanish.

Other Involvements:  Younglife and ACES Scholars.

Why did you join the club?
Interested in a mentoring opportunity, especially one in Columbus city schools!

Keegan Feeman

Year:  Junior.

From:  Powell, Ohio

Major:  Undecided – most likely Real Estate.

Other Involvements:  Finance Club.

What are your goals for the future of the club?
I want to see the club be able to have success helping the high school students and hopefully we can walk them through college in the future.

Jason Fleischman

Year:  Junior

From:  Hilliard, Ohio

Major:  Computer Science

What are your goals for the future of the club? 
To help it become the best program it can be at helping young adults figure out there futures.

Adam Frierson

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Atlanta, Georgia

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Major – City/Regional Planning Minors – Business and Architecture.

Other Involvements:  Member of Business Fraternity and Pi Sigma Epsilon.

Why did you join the club? 
I wanted to get involved on campus and in the Columbus area, also I wanted to find a way to give back to the community.

Zoe Gerber

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Upper Arlington, Ohio

Major:  Marketing.

Other Involvements:  Pi Sigma Epsilon, Kappa Delta, and Buckeyethon.

Why did you join the club?
When I first found out about Empower Mentoring, I was immediately interested! I’ve been a mentor several times in the past, but EM sounds really special.

Ben Gross

Year:  Junior

From:  Montville, New Jersey

Major:  Accounting

Other Involvements:  TAMID Investing Group and Accounting Association.

Why did you join the club? 
I joined Empower Mentoring because it can be really helpful to have peer guidance when thinking about life beyond high school. I had a lot of great advice growing up and I find it important to help out in a confusing process.

Aaron Hampshire

Year:  Junior

Hometown:  Hilliard, Ohio

Major:  Physical Education

What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring?
The chance to inspire the next generation of people.

Zoe Harris

Year:  Freshman

From:  Columbus, Ohio

Major:  Health Profesions Explorations.

Other Involvements:  Buckeyes First Student Organization (plan on joining soon), First Aid and Response Club, Morril Scholarship Program Leadership Development Team, Buckeyes for Ronald McDonald House Charities (plan on joining soon).

Why did you join the club?
  I joined Empower Mentoring because I want to help people achieve their goals while also forming strong relationships with others. I also want to be someone that others can look up to and get great advice from. I enjoy helping others so this club sounded perfect for me to join and it is a great opportunity to be a part of!

Sidarth Iyer

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Mason, Ohio

Major:  Neuroscience

Other Involvements:  Buckeyes Against Alzheimers, Buckeyes for Canines, Neuroscience Ambassador, Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Lab, Buck-i-SERV, Intramural Soccer.

Why did you join the club? 
I joined Empowering Mentoring to help underprivileged students make an impact on the world.  Growing up in a highly privileged community, I realized that many students don’t have access to the same resources growing up so I want to help younger students use their strengths to become a better version of themselves academically, financially, and personally.
Abby Jarrold
Year:  Freshman
Hometown:  Cincinnati, Ohio
Major:  Undecided but looking into Social Work with a minor in Nonprofit Management.
Other Involvements:  The Advocates and Community Scholar Program.
What are your goals for the future of the club?
I would like to see more students, mentors and mentees, present within the club and even to see the club expand to middle schoolers.
Ojal Kakrecha

Year:  Sophomore
From:  Toledo, Ohio
Major:  Neuroscience.
Other Involvements:  Neuroscience Tutoring, College of Arts and Science Peer Mentoring, and Neuroscience Ambassadors.
What are your goals for the future of the club? 
I want to develop my skills as a mentor by being able to be a resource for not just a certain school subject, but rather for certain aspects of life
Jon Knaggs
Year:  Junior
From:  Olmestead Falls, Ohio
Major(s):  History and Logistics
Other Involvements:  Pre Law + Business Student Organization and Politics, Scoiety, and Law Scholars.
What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring? 
I greatly enjoy working with and mentoring students from around the Columbus area. It is always a pleasure to have the opportunity to teach someone about a financial concept and then work with them on how they might apply it in their own lives.
Roopi Korada
Year:  Freshman
From:  Columbus, Ohio
Major:  Biology
Other Involvements:  Medical Innovations and Health Points.
What are your goals for the future of the club?
To be able to help our future workforce find the path to their passions!
Wendy Kristell
Year:  Sophomore
From:  Aurora, Ohio
Major(s)/Minor(s):  Majors: Political Science and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Minor: Mathematics.
Other Involvements:  Pay It Forward cohort member and Saturday Tutoring Program volunteer.
What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring?
  My favorite part about Empower Mentoring is the community building that it fosters. By bringing OSU students together with local area high school students, meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships can develop. Taking part in EM last year opened my eyes to the environment in which urban schools operate, and inspired me to do my part to engaged with and learn from others unlike myself while actively working to advance the education all students receive. Moreover, weekly meetings and commutes to the high school facilitated new relationship with fellow OSU students, and while I know this year will look different, I still really enjoy that EM provides an opportunity to meet and develop new relationships within the OSU community as well.
Malina Lear
Year:  Junior.
From:  Buford, Georgia
Major:  Finance
Other Involvements:  Morril Scholars Program and the Undergraduate Business Women’s Association.
Why did you join the club?
I joined the club because I like how EM is an organization that makes a difference and gives back to the community.
Jake Lister
Year:  Junior
From:  Dublin, Ohio
Majors:  Finance and Real Estate.
Other Involvements:  Common Cents Investment Group.
What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring?
I just want to have a connection with my mentee and teach them what I’ve learned.
Luke Lister
Year:  Freshman
Hometown:  Dublin, Ohio
Major:  Business
What do you enjoy the most about EM?
I think I’m going to enjoy the mentoring aspect of EM. Being able to provide advice and guidance is something I’ve enjoyed doing for my younger brothers and I think this experience will be somewhat similar to that.
Christina Lo
Year:  Junior
From:  Coppell, Texas
Major:  Finance
Other Involvements:  Student Alumni Council and Undergraduate Student Government.
Olivia McDonald
Year:  Sophomore
From:  Rocky River, Ohio
Major(s)/Minor(s):  Finance Major with a Computer Science Minor.
Other Involvements:  Pi Sigma Epsilon and Kappa Delta.
What are your goals for the future of the club? 
I would love to see the club grow as much as possible and make kids feel like they have a safe place/people to talk to.
Christy Murgiano
Year:  Junior
From:  Cleveland, Ohio
Major(s)/Minor(s):  Major/Accounting Minor/Economics.
Other Involvements:  Social Sorority.
What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring? 
Building connections with the students

Daniyal Nadeem

Year:  Junior

From:  Toledo, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Major/Biology, Minors/Medical Humanities, International Conflict and Peace Studies.
Other Involvements:  I’m also involved with Blueprints for Pangaea, a nonprofit that redistributes excess medical supplies from hospitals to free clinics around Columbus and abroad.
Why did you join the club? 
I joined EM because I find mentoring to be a rewarding and worthwhile experience where I can use what I’ve learned and experienced to help others along their own paths.

Justine Nardone

Year:  Junior

From:  Dublin, Ohio

Major:  Finance

Other Involvements:  Alpha Gamma Delta (sorority)

Why did you join the club? 
I joined the club because high schools do not teach about financial wellness or about things that students need to know and I think it’s really important for individuals to succeed in college or trade school or wherever they are going after high school.

Bryce Nath

Year:  Junior

From:  Northville, Michigan

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Finance/Globalization Studies.
Other Involvements:  Student-Alumni Council, Student Leadership Advocates, and Undergraduate Student Government.
Why did you join the club? 
Give back to the broader Columbus community and practice professional communication skills.

Alexus Oliver

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Akron, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Majoring in ESL Education with a minor in African American and African Studies.
Other Involvements:  Buckeyes First Org. and possibly African American Voices Choir.
Why did you join the club? 
I joined EM because I was a mentor in high school (my last two years) and I enjoyed that experience very much.  I find delight in enlightening the younger generations with knowledge that helped me along the way!  I love forming bonds and helping others navigate through troubling times.

Elizabeth Pinder

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Liberty Township, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Geographic Information Science And Economics.
Other Involvements:  Nourish International, Geography Club, and STEM EE Scholars.
Why did you join the club?
  I joined to help students learn to make smart financial decisions at an earlier age.

Lauren Platko

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Cleveland, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Biology Major/ Spanish Minor.

Other Involvements:  Med Life, AKidAgain, and The Finding Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.

Why did you join the club? 
I love working with students!  When I was in high school, I did not have any ‘mentors’ (or even upperclassmen) that I could rely on; I had so many questions with no one to go to!  I joined this club not only because I wanted to teach students, but let them know they have someone who they can turn to if they have questions about school or even life in general.

Claire Puthoff

Year:  Junior

From:  Middletown, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  High School Math Education and Studio Art Minor.
Other Involvements:  Club Swimming and Pen Pals.
What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring? 
I enjoy listening to the students talk about their goals and how their days are going!

BayLee Reynolds

Year:  Senior

From:  Colfax, North Carolina

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Political Science/Psychology/International Conflict and Peace Studies

Other Involvements:  Resident Manager, STEP Ambassador, Intern for Gretchen Driskell, Student Assistant, Peace Corps, Ambassador for the College of Arts & Sciences, Volunteer at the Wexner Medical Center.

Why did you join the club? 

To be a guide to high schoolers and open the door to what their college experience might look like.

Elyse Schemenauer

Year:  Junior

From:  Springboro, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  International Business with a minor in Spanish.

Other Involvements:  Undergraduate Student Government and College Mentors for Kids.

Why did you join the club? 

I joined EmpowerMentors to give high school students the resources and tools to become successful with their finances now and in the future.

Kiana Simpson
Year:  Senior
From:  Valdosta, Georgia
Major(s)/Minor(s): English with Spanish Minor.
What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring?
  I enjoy the time I spend with the students I mentor every week, getting to know them and providing them some guidance through this difficult period in their lives.
Ryan Slawson
Year:  Senior
From:  Powell, Ohio
Major:  Accounting
Other Invovlements:  Phi Gamma Delta
What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring? 
I enjoy the interaction with students in discussions. I feel the best way to learn is through discussion and not a teacher lecturing.
Roy Spencer
Year:  Fifth-Year
From:  Detroit, Michigan
Major(s)/Minor(s):  Accounting & Economics /Linguistics & Organizational Communication.
Other Involvements:  Sports Analytics Association.
What do you enjoy the most about Empower Mentoring? 
The people.
Peyton Splisbury
Year:  Junior
From:  Pittsburgh, Pennslyvania
Major(s)/Minor(s):  Industrial and Systems Engineering
Other Involvements:  Student Counseling for Non-Profit Organizations
What are your goals for the future of the club? 
Continue to make relationships with teachers to allow for us to come into schools, and continue to get more members.

Emma Jean Thomas

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Bethesda, Maryland

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Mathematics Major, Developmental Psychology Minor.

Other Involvements:  Ohio Student Education Association.

Matthew Turner

Year:  Sophomore

From:  Hilliard, Ohio

Major:  Math Education.

Other Involvements:  Alpha Phi Omega (National Service Fraternity) and Intramural Sports.

Why did you join the club? 
I wanted to have an opportunity to help high schoolers and be a positive role model.

Colin Wagner

Year:  Junior

Hometown:  Hilliard, Ohio

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Aerospace Engineering and Design Thinking.

Other Involvements:  American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Buckeye Space Launch Initiative, and Formula Buckeyes (Society of Automotive Engineers).

Why did you join the club?
I joined empower to give back to a community that has given so much to me.

Rachel Waltman

Year: Freshman

From:  San Antonio, Texas.

Major: Social Work

Other Involvements:  RISE43210 blog, Advocates for Communities and Education Scholars.

What are your goals for the future of the club?
I’d love the chance to get paired up individually with a student so we can develop a closer mentor/mentee relationship.

Bobbi Watson

Year:  Senior

From:  Southern Pines, North Carolina

Major:  Neuroscience

Other Involvements:  National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Society of Sisters, Phi Sigma Pi (ΦΣΠ) Honor Fraternity.

Why did you join the club? 
To help make the knowledge of the college application process and financial literacy easier for students because not everyone has the resources to access the things needed. It should be simple information easily accessible, however it can be complicated.
Garrison Wiesenhahn
Year:  Freshman
Hometown:  Mason, Ohio
Major:  Finance
Other Involvements:  Looking to get involved Undergraduate Finance Association.
What are your goals for the future of the club?
My personal goal for this club is to do everything I can to make sure this club has a long-lasting impact on the future of the mentees.
Owen Young
Year:  Sophomore
From:  Cincinnati, Ohio
Major:  Accounting
Other Involvements:  Delta Tau Delta
What are your goals for the future of the club?
  Mentor more kids and meet other osu students passionate about mentoring
Terry Zheng
Year:  Sopohmore
From:  Westlake, Ohio
Major(s)/Minor(s):  Major: Health Information Management & Systems, Minor: Global Public Health.
Other Involvements:  American Red Cross, Food Recovery Network, Remote Area Medical, Phi Gamma Delta, Club Tennis, and Club Powerlifting.
Why did you join the club?
I’ve always enjoyed volunteering and giving back to the community, and having an opportunity where I can help guide high / middle schoolers to help them make good financial decisions (which I was never taught of growing up but wished I took opportunities like these) would not only be really informative and beneficial to the children but be fulfilling and useful to me as well.