Over the last several years, A²MEND student mentee James Butera has come a long way in his life – literally. Raised in Uganda, Butera managed to graduate from high school and community college before transferring to UC Riverside – just five years after arriving in the U.S. with his parents and siblings to start a new life. Today, Butera feels like he’s on his way to realizing his career dream in the finance industry, as he’s currently on track to earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics.
Butera believes that A²MEND has been an integral part of his journey to succeeding in college. He learned about the mentoring program through a professor while attending San José City College. He soon joined and eventually became a member of A²MEND’s Student Leadership Academy. The camaraderie and support that he felt within the organization helped guide him on his trajectory of attending a four-year university. “We’d get mentored in the financing career field,” he said. “My grades got a boost.” In March, Butera attended A²MEND’s annual conference in Los Angeles to accept a scholarship for his academic performance.
As a new student at UC Riverside, Butera already has set his sights on the next stage of his education. “I want to go to grad school to get an MBA so I can work in finance management,” he said. “And I want to do something for the community.”
For student mentees interested in A²MEND’s Student Leadership Academy, feel free to submit an application here.