Each year, NWU students are challenged to pitch their ideas for how to make NWU stronger at the annual Brugman Pitch Contest. This year, Mady Schoffstall, a senior, and Bruce Archambault, a sophomore, had the winning idea: Wolf Tracks, a mentorship initiative designed to strengthen and connect the NWU community by pairing seniors with first-year students.
“The purpose of Wolf Tracks is to support first-year students as they transition into college by giving them access to guidance and tips from senior students,” Schoffstall said. “The program also gives seniors a meaningful way to leave a positive impact on campus while building leadership skills they can take into the workforce.”
The idea for Wolf Tracks grew out of conversations between Schoffstall and Archambault. They compared their student experiences — one having recently navigated their first year and the other currently navigating senior year.
“We realized how much smoother our first-year transition could have been with a little guidance. Those conversations made it clear that NWU could benefit from a campus-wide program that intentionally connects seniors with first-year students, and that shared realization inspired Wolf Tracks,” Archambault said.
The first Wolf Tracks experience launched this year. The program flowed through several intentional phases: Welcome and Orientation, Campus Exploration, Wellness and Success, and Legacy and Celebration.
“The goal of the first Wolf Tracks experience was to have participants feel welcomed, supported and connected. The experience wrapped up with a finale to celebrate the relationships formed, the growth that took place, and to show the seniors the meaningful impact they had on their first-year students,” Schoffstall said.
Sharing Wolf Tracks at the Brugman Pitch Contest with a broader audience was exciting and rewarding for Schoffstall and Archambault.
“Presenting pushed us to grow our public-speaking skills, and winning was a valuable reminder that stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to incredible opportunities,” Archambault said.