UT Refugee Student Mentor Program (RSMP)

$215
Donated
21% of $1,000 goal
5
Donors
This campaign ended on April 30, 2026, but you can still make a gift to University of Texas at Austin by clicking here!
About

The UT Refugee Student Mentor Program (RSMP) is a community of dedicated UT student volunteers committed to supporting refugee children through weekly, school‑based mentoring in local elementary, middle, and high schools. Our mentors build consistent & caring relationships that help students thrive academically and socially. RSMP volunteers include UT undergraduate and graduate students from a range of disciplines. Mentors support refugee students as they build English language skills and confidence while navigating life in a new country. The children we serve have resettled in Austin from countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and others.

Housed within the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, RSMP began with a focus on supporting Arabic‑speaking refugee youth resettling from Syria and Iraq, paired with UT students studying Arabic. As national and local resettlement has shifted, our program has shifted too. Refugee students in Austin have resettled from across the world, and RSMP has expanded to include mentors who may speak any number of languages.

Your donation

Gifts to UT Refugee Student Mentor Program (RSMP) contribute to...

40 Hours for the Forty Acres
3,530 Donors - $1,162,569 Donated
Incentives 😎
Get 5 gifts through your advocate link to earn a 40 for Forty Bandana.
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Get 10 gifts through your advocate link to earn a clear UT fanny pack.
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Advocates 📣

Community Advocates

Generated 3281 clicks and 310 gifts, totaling $35,401

Soh Nishiyama

Generated 302 clicks and 116 gifts, totaling $19,672

Luke Mastrian

Generated 339 clicks and 233 gifts, totaling $18,348

David Griffin

Generated 170 clicks and 61 gifts, totaling $11,515

Randall Ford

Generated 113 clicks and 16 gifts, totaling $5,825

Anna Boxall

Generated 295 clicks and 21 gifts, totaling $3,765

Mark Carella

Generated 130 clicks and 18 gifts, totaling $3,717

Victoria Mena

Generated 97 clicks and 7 gifts, totaling $3,560

Sam Zarou

Generated 71 clicks and 21 gifts, totaling $3,260

Katelyn Rood

Generated 174 clicks and 16 gifts, totaling $3,233


Leaderboards & Donors 🎁

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Donor Affiliations
Suitcase icon40%Faculty/Staff
Gradhat icon20%Alumni
Book icon20%Students
Gradhat icon20%Texas Exes Chapter
Most Recent Donors
Sharon Alexander
Sharon Alexander
Thomas Thompson
Thomas Thompson
Mehmet Ege Karaesmen
Mehmet Ege Karaesmen
Asya Saydam
Asya Saydam
Paige Muehlenkamp
Paige Muehlenkamp
Updates❗
​Final Advocate Update

Advocates, you have until 10:00 p.m. CST to solidify your rankings. Good luck!

Gift Count Leaders

1. Luke Mastrian – 232

2. Soh Nishiyama – 116

3. David Griffin – 59

4. Jacob – 38

5. Rizky Pratama – 29


Dollars Raised Leaders

1. Soh Nishiyama – $19,672

2. Luke Mastrian – $18,338

3. David Griffin – $11,414.60

4. Randall Ford – $5,675

5. Mark Carella – $3,717


Winners will be announced on May 1.

35 days ago by Pablo Mora
Final Sprint

Longhorns, this is the final sprint of 40 Hours for the Forty Acres!

Make your final gift now and help push us across the finish line at 10:00 p.m. CST.

Competing on a leaderboard? Every gift and share can still change the standings and this is your last chance to claim advocate incentives.

35 days ago by Pablo Mora
Advocate Challenge Update #3

Final hour, Advocates! Nothing is locked in! Every share and every gift can still change the leaderboard. The top five advocates in each challenge earn extra match dollars for the designation of their choice.

Gift Count Leaders

1. Luke Mastrian – 231

2. Soh Nishiyama – 116

3. David Griffin – 59

4. Jacob – 38

5. Leonard Ali Wako Memon – 25

Dollars Raised Leaders

1. Soh Nishiyama – $19,672

2. Luke Mastrian – $18,288

3. David Griffin – $11,414.60

4. Randall Ford – $5,675

5. Mark Carella – $3,717

One final update will be placed on the 40 for Forty site at 9:30 p.m. CST.

35 days ago by Pablo Mora
Advocate Challenge Update #2

Here’s where things stand right now in our Advocate Challenges. Every share and every gift counts, nothing is locked in yet. Remember that the top five advocates for each challenge get additional match dollars for a designation of their choice.

Current Leaders

Advocate Challenge: Gift Count Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest number of gifts so far:

1. Luke Mastrian - 189 gifts

2. Soh Nishiyama - 76 gifts

3. David Griffin - 48 gifts

4. Jacob - 27 gifts

5. Leonard Ali Wako Memon - 23 gifts

 

Advocate Challenge: Dollars Raised Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest cumulative dollars so far:

1. Soh Nishiyama - $13,950

2. Luke Mastrian - $13,428

3. David Griffin - $9,695

4. Randall Ford - $5,475

5. Mark Carella - $3,567

 

Huge thanks to our advocates who are pushing hard and setting the pace. Leaders, defend your spot as we make our way to the 10:00 p.m. CST finish line!

36 days ago by Pablo Mora
Advocate Challenge Update #1

We’re excited to share a snapshot of the current standings in our two Advocate Challenges during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres. These rankings reflect where things stand right now and there’s still plenty of time to keep moving up! Remember that the top five advocates in each challenge get additional match dollars for a designation of their choice.

Advocate Challenge: Gift Count Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest number of gifts so far:

1. Luke Mastrian - 156 gifts

2. Soh Nishiyama - 35 gifts

3. David Griffin - 26 gifts

4. Jacob - 18 gifts

5. Leonard Ali Wako Memon - 15 gifts


Advocate Challenge: Dollars Raised Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest cumulative dollars so far:

1. Luke Mastrian - $8,943

2. Soh Nishiyama - $5,960

3. David Griffin - $4,945

4. Randall Ford - $4,375

5. Emily Quigley - $2,376

A huge thank you to everyone who has already stepped up as an advocate. Your outreach, enthusiasm, and commitment are powering 40 Hours for the Forty Acres.

Keep sharing your links, keep spreading the word, and keep up the great work, we can’t wait to see how these leader boards shift as we approach the finish on April 30 at 10 p.m. CST!

36 days ago by Pablo Mora