Students drive solutions in higher education at the REP4 Midwest Learner Design Summit

"REP4 puts students at the center of design, at the center of learning, at the center of creating solutions for higher education," said LuWanna Williams, REP4 executive director. "You are helping us understand the barriers to college, to and through education, so that we're able to be the change agent for those things."

Maria Benitz-Sabino, a rising senior at GVSU and lead student mentor for REP4, said that students feel empowered when they see that people want to hear their voice. "They've done all this work so quickly, and then they get to present it and be congratulated about it."

Benitz-Sabino, who is studying music education, has been involved in REP4 since she was in high school. "It's given me a space to develop who I want to be as a leader," she said. "I get to serve students and support future change makers. I'm walking away knowing that I'm in the right place."