Sam Blazina is a recent graduate from CWU. As a nontraditional, first-generation, Latino, married student and mother of three, Sam earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Community Health Education. While she attended Central, Sam also worked as a professional in the Ellensburg community for over ten years, and so she brings to STAR a wealth of experience, ideas, and a sincere desire to support students in achieving academic success. Sam has developed and implemented two programs in Kittitas County which continue to provide support and mentoring to families of children with disabilities. She also continues to be involved in the community as a Certified and Bi-lingual Health Educator with Kittitas Co. Community Hospital and as an advocate to families of children with disabilities. Understanding, firsthand, the potential pitfalls of such a complex system as a university, as the STAR Program Coordinator, Sam hopes to draw from her own experiences to assist students in maximizing their full potential to achieve their academic goals. Sam devotes most of her spare time to her family –her three sons and husband.