Peer Success Guide Recognized at Conference

From November 12 through 15, computer science student Keerthi Kapavarapu visited San Francisco for the College Reading and Learning Association’s (CRLA) 58th Annual Conference, where she received the 2025 Outstanding Peer Educator Award, recognizing her impact as a peer support leader at New York Tech.

At the conference, Kapavarapu attended workshops, networked, and listened to higher education professionals from across the country about how they approach peer support. But the highlight of the experience was when she stood on stage at the awards brunch and accepted her plaque and $250 honorarium. Director of Academic Success and Enrichment Tadiyos Gebre nominated Kapavarapu for the honor and attended the four-day event to celebrate the moment with her.

“What sets Keerthi apart is her commitment to meeting each student where they are,” says Gebre, who notes that Kapavarapu’s award comes on the heels of New York Tech’s Peer Success GUIDE (PSG) Program receiving CRLA’s International Peer Educator Training Program Certification. “She has embraced the role of Peer Success Guide with remarkable heart and intentionality.”

Kapavarapu has a long résumé of on-campus student leadership and mentorship roles, including Student Government Association president, Model United Nations Club founder, PSG, student ambassador, peer tutor, and resident assistant (RA). With one academic year left, she has shifted her focus to her studies while remaining in her roles as a PSG and RA.

“If my high school self saw everything I’ve done at New York Tech, she wouldn’t believe it,” Kapavarapu says. “She’d probably look at the list of achievements and wonder how any of that could possibly be her.”

In an essay Kapavarapu penned as part of the award nomination process, she spoke about the impact of her on-campus roles and reflected on her time growing up in Kuwait, where she felt like peer support didn’t exist and she feared asking for help. The first time she sat with a peer tutor on the New York City campus, Kapavarapu realized that struggling did not make her any less of a person; it made her human. And it was her tutor who made her feel seen. She then made the leap to work as a PSG and peer tutor, committing herself to creating spaces where students feel heard, supported, and understood.

“The biggest thing I’ve gained [from my on-campus roles] is confidence. I’ve learned how to really listen to people, meet students where they are, understand what they need, and be patient,” she says. “I grew into my voice at New York Tech—from someone who once hesitated to ask questions to someone who advocates for students, uplifts others, and isn’t afraid to take initiative.”

While her campus leadership positions helped her develop as a person, nothing is more important to Kapavarapu than helping others grow. In her eyes, peer support is deeper than a role; it’s part of who she is. Taking the CRLA award into her hands was a pivotal and emotional moment as she realized her PSG work had truly made an impact.

“If you believe in yourself, everything truly does work out,” she says. “Sometimes even better than you imagined.”