Great mentors aren’t limited to senior members of the profession as is being proven every day by University of Nebraska at Omaha senior Dakota Earlywine, recipient of this year’s “Culpwrit” PRSSA scholarship for mentorship.
A communications and media studies major, Dakota serves as a peer tutor at his university’s speech center and a student facilitator teaching fellow undergraduate students the necessary
communication skills to create effective dialogue through diverse backgrounds and social identities. Dakota also has been active in his campus PRSSA chapter which he joined during his freshman year. He currently serves as vice president of finance for the chapter.
In what he describes as a “dream” job, Dakota’s current summer internship is with a unique organization — Timeleft — which combats loneliness by facilitating meaningful connections between strangers over dinner every Wednesday in cities around the world.
“My role involves comprehensive coordination and communication with restaurants across multiple cities, ensuring seamless dining experiences for our users. I work remotely, supporting operations in New York, Boston, DC, Philly, Charlotte, and Atlanta,” explained Dakota.
Asked for his perspective on mentorship, Dakota said: “Through my journey at college, I have learned a lot in my classes, but the most important things I’ve learned have been from the amazing role models I found along the way. I truly couldn’t have made it this far without my mentors, and it means the world to me that I can use these skills to help others now. I plan to pursue my Master’s degree following graduation and become a professor so I can provide the space for others to grow and thrive like I was given.”
Congratulations, Dakota. You’re already an impressive role model for outstanding mentorship.