Veteran at UNL offers mentorship to peers with military backgrounds

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A veteran at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is offering mentorship to peers with similar backgrounds.

Kyle Potratz joined the Marine Corps after graduating high school and served as an administrator in Twentynine Palms, California.

He also served as a Marine security guard and spent three years in three different countries.

Potratz later wanted to pursue his strength in mathematics and enrolled at the UNL, majoring in actuarial science.

He was then introduced to the Military Veterans Success Center on campus.

“It can be nice to have somewhere to go to,” Potratz said.  “You can not only get those questions answered, but you can also surround yourself with people who have similar experiences to you who can possibly answer those questions as well.”

The center provides resources, such as academic tutoring and peer mentoring for students with military backgrounds.

Joe Brownell, the center’s executive director of military relations, said mentors with similar backgrounds provide more insight.

“It really creates some synergy, and it also benefits each individual student that will take advantage of our services,” Brownell said.

The center offers services to 1,600 students.