The Fostering Success Program at Colorado State University creates a sense of belonging and provides support for independent students who must navigate a large, unfamiliar campus.
The program is donor-funded and has grown into a community of around 300 students. To help students thrive, FSP provides several resources, including financial aid, coaching, community engagement opportunities and academic support.
The program seeks out students from independent backgrounds, such as kinship care, guardianship care and foster care, who do not receive emotional or financial support from their families, according to its website.
Alazeah Giarrusso, a junior majoring in journalism and political science, is currently one the lead mentors for the program. As a lead mentor, she communicates one-on-one with new students and offers support.
Giarrusso said she has loved working as a mentor because the program emphasizes the beauty of a tight-knit community, which is meant to be comfortable and familiar.
“You’re sitting in an office with somebody that, even if they have a completely different story, completely different background, they understand where you are at in life and that you’re going through more than a lot of other people on campus are going through,” Giarrusso said.
Katelyn Berryman is also a junior at CSU and another lead mentor for Fostering Success. Upon involvement, they immediately enjoyed the program’s community, peer mentorship and financial resources.
Berryman wanted to give back to the program that allowed them to connect with those who truly understood their situation in unexpected ways. Berryman said they believe it is important to recognize and openly discuss the support provided by FSP.
“It’s so important to people honestly to know that you are not alone in the human experience (and) in what you deal with,” Berryman said. “It is the most motivating thing that someone can have to kind of help them get through life.”
Previously a peer mentor, Melissa Henke is the coordinator of the FSP. As a coach, Henke has had the opportunity to spend time with students. One of their favorite moments is seeing students make it to graduation, watching them truly flourish as they each receive a handmade quilt — a testament to what they have learned and how they have prospered.
“Watching incredibly resilient, thoughtful, talented and deserving individuals persevere through challenges that no young adult should have to face and gain access to much needed resources is a gift,” Henke said.
The FSP is currently able to help students free of charge. Giarrusso and Henke work on various initiatives, such as building care packages with basic winter necessities like beanies, hats, fuzzy socks and mugs; creating a care corner with basic needs items for students, such as shampoo and conditioner; and tea time counseling with the FSP and CSU Health Network liaison in an effort to connect students with mental health resources.
“We’re learning more and more about how trauma as a child can echo throughout various aspects of adult life. We have been using our passion and care for our community to partner with other organizations (and) experts and learn about how we can help independent students heal and flourish.” –Melissa Henke, Fostering Success Program coordinator
Recently, Berryman said FSP recently had a Lego building event, resulting in a large turnout. They said they found it amazing to see students bonding over Legos while also connecting with one another, meeting the students’ needs in multiple ways.
“(The event) was so warm,” Berryman said. “That kind of community where you stand with each other and you have people who support you is more important than ever.”
Giarrusso noted how the program’s growth has allowed them to progressively establish a safe space for students and reach out to those who are still in need of this supportive community.
She said she hopes that people within the CSU community can begin to learn more about FSP and the support it offers students who come from independent backgrounds. Beyond CSU, there are many campuses that don’t know what an independent student is or how to support them.
Henke emphasized that the program can continue to grow its vision through donor support. The program is currently running the RamFunder Campaign to fund leadership and holistic coaching, ending Oct. 31. With a $5,000 goal and 87% already raised as of Oct. 20, Henke said the program hopes the campaign can enable the team to make meaningful touchpoints and continue thriving on campus.
“We’re learning more and more about how trauma as a child can echo throughout various aspects of adult life,” Henke said. “We have been using our passion and care for our community to partner with other organizations (and) experts and learn about how we can help independent students heal and flourish.”
Giarrusso said she hopes more college campuses recognize the need for programs like FSP to foster a sense of belonging for students who otherwise may have difficulty finding it.
“I want it to grow in a way where people understand that the world is so much bigger, and there’s so much bad in the world, but good can be done,” Giarrusso said.
Reach Sananda Chandy at life@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
