Orientation mentors selected last month

Thirty-five CMU students will be 'superheroes' this summer to 3,400 incoming freshman.
The students were selected Feb. 21 by Academic Advising Services as the next group of orientation mentors.
A group of students from different backgrounds was ideal to the selection process, said Pam Fitzgerald, general academic adviser for north campus.
"We were really trying to expand our bases and increase diversity. We were hoping to diversify our mentor team so that it would be better reflective of our student population," she said.
The theme of this year's program is "Orientation Superheroes: The Adventure Begins."
Mentors were selected by an application process, including a resum´e and copy of their Student Development Record.
Based on those materials, some participated in a three-part interview called the assessment center. Final selection was based on performance during the interview.
Mentors work during nine orientation sessions, beginning June 11, with both incoming freshman and parents. They work in groups of three and each group is responsible for approximately 30 freshmen.
"They really play a critical role in team building," Fitzgerald said. "It really leads to better relationship building for freshmen. They deal with information about classes and registration and campus resources."
A mentor plays many roles during orientation said Jessica Ballenberger, orientation graduate assistant and Oxford senior.
"They show them around, they're a tour guide and a role model. The assist with scheduling and work with the families."
The mentors, 11 of whom returned from last summer, are probably experiencing a range of emotions, Ballenberger said.
"I think they're excited. It's kind of a nervous excitement because you're not sure how things will work out, but they become a really bonded team."
Mentors are an instrumental part of the CMU orientation process, Ballenberger said.
"We could not carry out the quality of orientation without the mentors and their quality of leadership," she said.
Orientation members for this summer are:
Ballenberger; Owosso sophomore Bobbie Bentley; Bad Axe junior Heather DeCourval; Saginaw junior Andrea Easlick; Saginaw junior Natalie Ebig; Iron River sophomore Tiffany Fuller; Ada senior Brandon Greer; Warren sophomore Laura Hall; Roseville junior Amanda Haxer; Comstock Park freshman Emily Homrich; Battle Creek sophomore Steve Hough; Sterling Heights sophomore Chrissie Husk; Whitmore Lake freshman Daniel Jahncke; Rockford freshman Valerie Jones; Lapeer junior Jason Kopp; Berkley junior Steven Latour; Houghton Lake senior Dave Laur; Deckerville freshman Andrea McConnachie; Iron Mountain sophomore Stacy Mortensen; Concord freshman Eric Mulkey; Mount Pleasant sophomore Scott Owens; Sterling Heights sophomore Jonathon Pate; Detroit sophomore Shawna Patterson; Detroit freshman Carolyn Peart; Alpena sophomore Matt Price; Eagle sophomore Carolynn Rademacher; Smiths Creek junior Willo Reinhard; Gaylord freshman Julia Roberts; Belmont freshman Sarah Roberts; Mount Pleasant freshman Michael Schuette; Whitehall junior Brianna Schultz; Utica junior Julie Smith; Saginaw freshman Lisa Sommer; Ishpeming sophomore James Strand and Frankenmuth senior Rachel Tambling.