It started with a license plate: Inside Shocker Pride Mentor’s experience
A Shocker license plate was all it took to reconnect Raya Zerger with Wichita State in a meaningful new way. “I just wanted to show my Shocker pride,” she said with a laugh. That small decision eventually led to something bigger — an email about the Shocker Pride Scholar mentoring program. “I got a message asking if I’d be interested, and I thought, ‘This would be fun.’ So, I threw my name in the hat.”
The same license plate program that sparked Raya’s journey also plays a key role in supporting Wichita State students. Each $50 annual plate helps fund scholarships and alumni programming, contributing to more than $100,000 in scholarships awarded each year through the Shocker Pride Scholars program.
That simple step led to a powerful mentoring experience.
Raya, a Wichita State graduate, earned her degree in medical technology (now medical laboratory science). “I decided to be a medical technologist when I was 12,” she said. Attending Wichita State provided the foundation she needed to excel. “Once I got into the workforce, I realized how well prepared I was. The clinical training and faculty here were outstanding.”
Shocker Pride Scholars receive financial support along with the opportunity to be paired with a mentor who provides guidance, encouragement and real-world perspective.
When she became a mentor, Raya was paired with a student studying in the same field. “That was really special,” she said. “I could tell her, ‘I remember being exactly where you are.’”
Over the course of the year, Raya and her mentee built a relationship centered on conversation, curiosity and growth. Rather than telling her mentee what path to take, Raya focused on helping her see possibilities. “I didn’t want to tell her what to do,” she said. “I wanted to help her see the potential. There’s so much more you can do with a medical laboratory science degree than people realize.”
For Raya, mentorship goes beyond academics or career advice. “You can’t separate personal growth from professional growth,” she said. “We bring ourselves into everything we do.” Her approach centers on empowering students to understand their strengths, ask questions and take ownership of their future.
The experience also had a meaningful impact on Raya. “When you invest in someone else, it broadens your perspective,” she said. “It’s not about you anymore, and that’s a good thing.”
As her mentee begins her career, Raya hopes the connection they built continues. “I want her to know I’m always in her corner,” she said. “That doesn’t end when the program does.”
For those considering becoming a mentor, her message is simple: “Be willing to be authentic. You don’t have to have it all together. You don’t realize how much of a difference you can make, or how much you’ll grow from it, too.”
Through connections like Raya’s, the Shocker Pride Scholar program continues to create meaningful impact — supporting students not only financially, but through relationships that help them thrive long after graduation.
Become a Shocker Pride Mentor
Inspired by Raya’s story? You can make a difference, too. As a mentor, you’ll be paired one-on-one with a Shocker Pride Scholar to offer guidance, share your experiences and help support their journey.
Ready to get involved? Help a Shocker Pride Scholar succeed.
