Graduates of the P.A.W.S. Program are equipped to help their peers connect them with strategies and resources to improve their mental health and well-being.
Veronica Frystak
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Marketing & Supply Chain Operations Management
Extracurriculars: DECA, Women in Management, 91.9 FM WMTU, Steel Bridge, and the American Marketing Association.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Going for a walk! It's a great way for me to ground myself in reality, get some fresh air, and some light exercise. Whether alone or with a friend, it always helps to go for a walk.
The one thing I value the most about the P.A.W.S. program is the way it educates and welcomes anybody to learn through it. P.A.W.S. is a great way to take your knowledge and understanding of mental wellness and methods of support to the next level and how to make a difference on campus around the discussion of mental wellness.
Katherine Loff-Peterson
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Sustainability Science and Society, Minors: Public Health, Earth Science, and Mathematical Science
Extracurriculars: Pavlis Honors College, MUB Board, tour guide
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Getting enough sleep, taking breaks when I feel overwhelmed, mapping out my week in Google Calendar so that I am less likely to procrastinate and feel overwhelmed, and asking for extentions when I need them.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to take part in this training because of all of the amazing conversations we were able to have where I learned so much about how to recognize when and how to help my peers.
Yael Huber
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Masters of Business Administration
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: I try to maintain a consistent routine with regular exercise, meal planning, and enough sleep, which helps me feel grounded and energized. I also set aside time each day to disconnect from screens, often going for a walk or practicing mindfulness. Journaling has become a valuable habit too, letting me reflect on my goals and progress while managing stress.
I value the P.A.W.S. program for its focus on building resilience and well-being through practical strategies. One of the greatest benefits was learning techniques for managing stress and staying balanced during challenging times, which has been especially helpful in a busy academic environment. The program also provided insights into mindfulness practices, which I’ve found useful for staying present and reducing anxiety.
Nandhika Rajmanikandan
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Masters in Data Science
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Mental peace and well-being are closely tied to engaging in religious practices, like reading scriptures and listening to lectures, which bring a sense of calm. Additionally, I find solace in journaling and occasionally taking photographs—both are soothing activities that nourish my soul.
I've been on this mental health journey independently, but one of the most meaningful aspects has been the people in my class. Their perspectives, emotions, and personal stories are what I truly cherish. I believe these shared values and experiences will stay with me, guiding me as I continue on this path.
Max Ingram
Pronouns: he/they
Major: Geological Engineering
Extracurriculars: Photography Club, Keweenaw Pride, and the Lode
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Going on walks, having a treat, rotting in bed with no expectations of myself
P.A.W.S. has trained me to better help myself and others, and I love that I am able to be there for my friends and if I am faced with a stranger who needs help I have the skills and confidence to be there for them.
Katherine Baker
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Chemical Engineering
Extracurriculars: Society of Women Engineers, Chemical Engineering Student Advisory Board, RA in the dorms, Pep Band section leader, and Chemical Engineering peer mentor.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Daily journaling, spending time outdoors, making time for creativity/hobbies.
I learned so much about mental health and starting conversations about it with others through PAWS. It gave me great tools for supporting other students on campus and I met a lot of really cool people.
Zachary Handwerker
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Medical Laboratory Science, Minors: Pre-Med and Spanish
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Running and meditation. Honestly, running is the best form of meditation in my opinion. Nothing beats a good few hours of constant, repetitive motion to ease the mind. I also take countless breaks throughout the day and always let myself get lost in music or a great book.
I value the insight I gained on what mental health actually looks like. It's easy to say what it is, but harder to put a label on it when it can come in many different forms. The P.A.W.S. program gave me insights into what it might look like to struggle and what it actually means to help someone who is struggling.
Micaela Geborkoff
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Medical Laboratory Science, Minor: Spanish
Extracurriculars: MTU EMS, MTU Well-Being Advocates, cancer biology and molecular genetics research, Biology Learning Center coach, GLAS coach (conversational English coach for international graduates students), Women's Golf Club.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Take breaks when I feel burnt out, use my support system, try to make time to do something fun every day (no matter how small), and prioritize doing things that make me happy.
What I value most is learning how to be of help to others during times of need. I think it's really important to be able to ask for support from others, but also to be able to help others when our support is needed. Due to my P.A.W.S. training, I believe I will be better able to be that supportive person for my friends and loved ones when needed, which can make a world of difference when someone is struggling.
Ellie Rizk
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Sustainability Science and Society
Extracurriculars: I'm the Husky Food Access Network Student Coordinator, and I am a tenant at the Sustainability Demonstration House.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Time outside in the morning, every morning. I try to be intentional about eating breakfast outside, but sometimes all I get in is walking to class. Still, sunlight right away in the morning makes a noticeable difference in how awake I feel throughout the day. Charging my phone and laptop outside of my room (and using an alarm clock to wake up on time). It's great for helping me avoid blue light and information overload right before bed and as I wake up. It also helps me place technology as a part of my day rather than being constantly tapped in.
Kohl Goldsmith
Pronouns: he/him
Major: Cybersecurity
Extracurriculars: Swing Dancing, Board Game Club, RedTeam.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Proper diet through cooking and varied nutritional sources, exercise, painting when I can take breaks. Scheduling meet-ups with friends.
Seeing everyone else’s views and experiences with the various topics, be it peers or professionals, opens your mind to all the different approaches and perspectives one can take when it comes to mental support.
Sofia Rivera Lozano
Pronouns: she/her
Major:Clinical/Counseling Psychology
Extracurriculars: Well Being Advocates and Association of Psychology Students.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Deep breathing, keeping a gratitude journal, and setting boundaries.
What I value the most about the P.A.W.S. program is promoting healthy discussions about mental health. P.A.W.S. taught me the importance of empathy and how to speak to people empathically.
Steven Garrett
Pronouns: he/they
Major: Software Engineering
Extracurriculars: Board Gamers Anonymous, Resident Assistant.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Making sure to eat and sleep well, three meals a day, 7 hours of sleep a night. No exceptions.
I valued the open comforting environment to discuss difficult topics and the learning of methods to understand and support those working through mental health troubles.
Masha Sergeyeva
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Psychology, Minor: Law
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Backpacking, Weightlifting, Spending time with my animals, and self-care nights .
What I value most about the P.A.W.S. Program is the staff and how friendly and conversationally open they are.
Ani Schneiderhan
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Psychology, Minor: Communications
Extracurriculars: Phi Delta Chi sorority, Association of Psychology of Students, and the Craft Club.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Get enough exercise, get enough sleep, and spend time doing activities that I enjoy such as various crafts and seeing friends.
The program gives students a chance to share their experiences and empowers students to talk to each other about their experiences and help each other out.
Jonathan Oleson
Pronouns: he/him
Graduate Major: Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Extracurriculars: Member of American Indian Science and Engineering Society at Michigan Tech as an ally.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Never underestimate the power of a good nap or just good sleep in general. Good food is important, too, and cooking can be a good focused leisure activity. Also, it's important to go outside and touch grass every so often.
I really appreciated the varied experiences of the invited speakers, and I'm glad the program covered topics particular to students at this university. I have some experience helping folks struggling with mental health issues in the past, but this was my first exposure to formal training, and I feel better equipped to offer support and help direct people to resources.
Carli Pares
Major: Psychology
Extracurriculars: Cymbal Section Leader of the Huskies Pep Band, Treasurer of the Craft Club, and Treasurer of the Makers Guild.
Personal Self-Care & Well-being Strategies: Scheduling time off! Take an hour or day to yourself to catch up and take care of yourself whether that's going for a walk or having a movie night in.
No student or staff member should contact the students listed on this web page for help of any kind. P.A.W.S. graduates use the skills they’ve learned in the training in their natural environment and are encouraged to expand their reach through student-led advocacy & support. CSMHW is recognizing the students who have gone through the P.A.W.S. training to further bring a higher level of mental health awareness and advocacy to the Michigan Tech community. These students have shown their commitment to helping their peers and fostering a supportive student community at Michigan Tech!
If you or someone else are experiencing a mental health emergency, do not use this page to seek help. Call TELUS Health (877-376-7896) or enter the TELUS Health app on your phone and indicate you have an emergency. You will be connected to a licensed counselor. Alternately, if on campus, call Public Safety at 906-487-2216, or dial 911. Other places to get help: The emergency department at U.P. Health--Portage (the hospital in Hancock) or dial the National Suicide Hotline at 988.