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START Program Prepares Students for College Success, Builds Mentors Along the Way

Hartwick College’s START (Students Transition to Academic Readiness Together) program welcomed a new group of incoming students this summer for three days of workshops, campus tours, and connections that ease the transition into college life.

Launched in 2022 with funding from the New York State Department of Education’s “Enhancing Supports & Services for Students with Disabilities for Post-Secondary Success” grant, START is offered at no cost to participants. Students move in early, meet staff and peers, and build skills for both academic and personal success.

START mentors were Maya Lieberman-Bachman ’26, Max Gollhofer ’27, and Jahcenya Evans ’26

This year’s START mentors were Maya Lieberman-Bachman ’26, Max Gollhofer ’27, and Jahcenya Evans ’26.

Lieberman-Bachman, an art major with a minor in art history, said START gave confidence during a significant transition. “I participated in the program because I was nervous about transitioning from high school to college, especially as an independent student living far from home,” Lieberman-Bachman said. “Having the opportunity to access resources ahead of time and meet the staff who could support me throughout my four years made me feel more confident.”

“I want incoming students to know it’s okay to feel nervous and have mixed emotions. They have someone like me—another student who’s been through it—to help them feel more comfortable as they transition into college life.”

Maya Lieberman-Bachman ’26

Art Major, Art History Minor

For Gollhofer, a double major in history and political science, START made an immediate difference. “The program helped me adjust to the Hartwick campus and allowed me to socialize with people that I’m still friends with today,” Gollhofer said. “As a mentor, I wanted to provide new students with the advice I didn’t have in my first year.”

Evans, a computer science and cybersecurity double major, recalled the welcoming environment created by staff. “Everything on campus was new to me as a first-year, but Alison Dodge and Lara Sanford made it very welcoming,” Evans said. Dodge is assistant director of AccessAbility Services at Hartwick, and Sanford serves as director of AccessAbility Services & Academic Inclusivity. Evans added that START was an invaluable part of the transition to college, encouraging other students, “If you get the opportunity to join, take it — you won’t regret it.”

Dodge said START is a valuable resource both for new students and for the peer mentors who help lead it. “It’s been incredible to watch students grow as they transition from participants to mentors for future START students,” Dodge said. “I’ve also loved seeing the connections formed in those first few days continue to grow and strengthen throughout their time at Hartwick.”

For more information about START, visit the website.

August 27, 2025
Spotlight, START, Student Spotlight

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