In the nearly two years since it launched in fall 2020, Newman University’s student success program, Navigator, has provided hands-on, personalized experiences for many students.
One such student was 2022 graduate Brayden Prockish, who was paired with mentor Brigadier General Shawn Campbell, a 1995 alumnus.
Prockish, whose career interest is in cybersecurity, is grateful to have been mentored by Campbell, a high-ranking member of the Air Force, for the semester he was part of the program.
“I built a great connection as he helped me meet someone else who was more in the career field I intend to be in,” Prockish says. “He is a strong-willed leader who taught me a few leadership tactics and still remains open as a mentor for me if I ever need help or advice.”
He adds, “My Navigator experience was positive, as it helped me answer questions about the career path I wanted to take in life. I turned to my mentor often to ask questions or even further build my connections through him to help me get to where I wanted.”
For Campbell, the opportunity to get involved in Newman’s Navigator program means a chance to give back.
“For many, many years now, I’ve been paying forward all the time, interest and engagement others have poured into me,” he says. “I know full well any success I’ve had was fueled by people willing to help me learn, develop and navigate my personal and professional life.”
Campbell would wholeheartedly recommend the Navigator program to other alums as a way to support future generations of students. “These kinds of programs, especially for young alumni starting out their professional lives, are key and essential to making good connections and generating insights that will be helpful navigating the post-graduation landscape,” he says.
Through the Navigator program, students receive personal guidance, one-on-one navigation, leadership and volunteer opportunities, and hands-on learning—and they are surrounded by faculty and staff who strive to help students fuel their passion and find their purpose.
“The ultimate goal for our graduates is that they identify their passion,” says Program Director Audrey Hane. “That they understand their purpose, that they see how their gifts and talents are unique to them, and how they are especially suited for some role in their future and in serving the world.”
With Newman’s small size, applied hands-on learning is accessible and realistic. Faculty put a great deal of effort into providing challenging experiences that result in skills confidence and career readiness.
To support programs like Navigator or students like Brayden through your estate planning, please contact Bob Beumer, Vice President for Advancement, at beumerb@newmanu.edu or 316-942-4291, ext. 2471.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.