Dr. Sally Shedd celebrates the last day of the Barbie class by gifting her students
pink sunglasses.
Photo: Lily Reslink | Marlin Chronicle
The WesBridge program aims to prepare freshmen for college and have a lasting impact on the participants. “It is always a great start for the students and staff for the year. Being able to communicate what I think students want is very rewarding,” Crit Muniz, associate vice president for Student Success and WesBridge co-director WesBridge said.
“Originally, it was intended to assist incoming students with low GPAs or students who simply wanted to get ahead,” Muniz said.
He said that the WesBridge curriculum has changed with time. When the program initiated in 2021, students took two classes for a total of six credits. Muniz said this overwhelmed students, so the requirements decreased to two credits for one class. The number of incoming students participating in WesBridge has doubled since the start, Muniz said.
Sophomore Kay Coburn, who participated in the program last year, described the course workload as relatively easy, but said it could be challenging due to the combination of classes and daily events. Coburn returned as a mentor this year.
Coburn said the impact of the program varied, with some students finding it positive and others struggling with the transition or workload. The program required students to attend multiple sessions and events, which she said could be overwhelming if not managed well.
Students after receiving prizes during the end-of-program event, earned through a raffle system based on event participation.
Photo: Dalton Mise | Courtesy
Sophomore Amiya Polansky said that the program could be stressful at times. “We wanted to make everything as perfect as possible,” she said about her role as a mentor. She said the goal was to make sure the students had an easier time adjusting to college, and she believes that being a WesBridge mentor helped accomplish that.
Polansky described her time at WesBridge as “incredibly fulfilling.” She said this year’s students were “engaged in everything we set out on, as well as the mentor-led activities.”
WesBridge is a program with many traditions and activities. Muniz said his favorite WesBridge tradition is “attending a Norfolk Tides baseball game on the first weekend.”
Coburn’s favorite activity as a WesBridge participant last year involved a trip to downtown Virginia Beach, where students were given $100 to spend in Town Center. Coburn said this allowed students to explore the city of Virginia Beach and was generally well received.
Polansky said that the first dinner and final dinner together were her favorite WesBridge tradition. “I think it really solidifies the fact that we started together and got through it together. We’re stronger when we work as a team, and celebrate as a team,” Polansky said.
“It was a nice way to start college, and I got a good feel of what I would and wouldn’t like,” freshman Katiemae Worley said. She said she enjoyed the activities and how welcoming the mentors were.
“I strive to be a voice for those that feel as though they don’t have their own, and I’d say WesBridge helped me accomplish that even after the program,” Polansky said. She said that WesBridge enabled her to connect with people and recognize that she was not the only one feeling lost.
Muniz said that a few lessons that he has learned from WesBridge are “having fun” and remembering that “you can remain yourself while still being seen in WesBridge.”
“It’s rewarding to help students figure out what it means to be a college student,” Muniz said.
The WesBridge program is funded through the support of Sentara Health. Considering Virginia Wesleyan’s in-progress merger with the Sentara College of Health Sciences, Muniz said any change to the program “remains to be seen,” and hopes that the merge will uplift the WesBridge program for the better.
Since the name WesBridge derives from Wesleyan, Muniz said it must be changed. Though no real decision has been made yet, Muniz said he is “confident that any name change transition will go smoothly.”
Muniz said changes are made to WesBridge each year in order to improve the program, and that even though the name will be changing, no other major adjustments will be made.
By: Mars Smith
rssmith@vwu.edu
