Peer Educators
Peer educators are motivated by personal experience and the desire to improve lifestyles for themselves and students around them.
They are knowledgeable about public health issues and develop self-confidence, public speaking skills, group facilitation, and communication skills. They also learn and practice effective problem solving, decision making, and program planning skills. They value the importance of sharing ideas and learning from others.
Check out our Peer Educator teams
The Connection Project Facilitators
The Connection Project (TCP) facilitators are undergraduate students who will use ongoing training, supervision, & lived experiences to support their peers. This group promotes mental health on campus through facilitation of mental health peer support groups, outreach, and events.
Financial Wellness Peer Educators
Financial Wellness Peer Educators are trained on major aspects of personal financial management (budgeting, credit, student loans, financial planning/goal setting, and banking terminology) in addition to identifying campus resources for students to save money.
HEAT
HEAT (Health Education and Awareness Team) members do public health outreach events designed to make the campus community healthier, safer, and more enjoyable. We are exploring other ways to improve wellness through new programming types. HEAT's current areas of focus are in sleep, vaping, and tobacco use.
IMPACT
The goal of IMPACT is to create positive change to the campus environment and culture. The team supports fellow Hokies by providing judgement-free education on substance misuse prevention in topics such as alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and other drugs. Peer educators on the IMPACT team promote the Party Positive harm reduction message by teaching workshops and trainings, holding outreach events, and facilitating 1:1 sessions like the 21st Birthday Project!
Mental Health Initiatives Team
The Mental Health Initiatives Team is a group of trained graduate-level interns who facilitate educational workshops and outreach about mental health and emotional well-being as well as facilitate mental health peer support groups. The goal of the Mental Health Initiatives Team is to help students learn tools and strategies to care for their emotional wellness.
Sorority Body Project
Sorority Body Project (SBP) Peer Educators are a peer education group trained by Hokie Wellness staff to facilitate workshops to sorority members on the healthy ideal, body acceptance and preventing eating disorders.
Other Peer Education Programs
The following peer education programs are part of other departments at Virginia Tech (outside of Hokie Wellness)
AWARE
The AWARE Club develops curriculum and facilitates educational programs for 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls at Blacksburg Middle School. Virginia Tech women lead discussions on topics such as healthy relationships, creativity, body image and self-esteem, as well as facilitate workshops and mentor young girls. Volunteers must attend weekly planning meetings and at least one session with students at the Middle School. Volunteers are commit to the program for an entire year.
PALS
The Peer Assistance for Learning program (PAL) is a volunteer opportunity for Virginia Tech students. In this role, PALs provide programmatic support for the counseling center by making and giving outreach presentations on various topics. They help spread information about mental health awareness and study skills.