During the 2023-24 school year, the Richmond Promise College Access Team will be joined in its work by Near-Peer Ambassadors. These members of our team are current RP Scholars who assist in the execution of in-classroom programming in local high schools. We are pleased to introduce you to one of our 2023-24 Ambassadors, Cristian.

Q: First, some basic info. Tell us your name, current school, the high school you graduated from and your major (or intended field of study):

A: My name is Cristian Mendez and I was born and raised in Richmond. I’m currently attending Southern New Hampshire University as a second-year student. I’m working towards getting a bachelor’s in Business Management by 2026. I graduated from Richmond High School in 2022.

Q: What are you most looking forward to about being an RP Near-Peer Ambassador and what are you hoping to get from the experience?

A: Being a Near-Pear-Ambassador for Richmond Promise means I can help students reach their full potential and support students through their college application experience. With this opportunity, I can spread awareness to students about the Richmond Promise Scholarship and all the benefits that come with it. I am hoping to inform local students about the resources available to them that will help them throughout their college journey.

Q: If you were going to give advice to a high school senior about going through the college application process, what would it be?

A: Some of the best advice I could give to high school seniors would be to make sure you apply to as many scholarships as possible. The more scholarships you apply to, the more funds you will have to cover your tuition.

Q: What’s the best part about being in college/what should a high school senior look forward to?

A: In my experience, the best part about being in college would be having the ability to network with others with the same major as you. This is a great experience since you can see what other students plan to do after college. Networking with others will also give you opportunities to get an internship to gain more experience in what you are planning on majoring in.

Q: What are you most looking forward to after college?

A: After college, I am looking forward to becoming a mentor for students in my community!