Making support easier to find: Adrian Restrepo’s ’25 capstone creates campus-wide impact
Image: Social Work major Adrian Restrepo has been working on a communications plan for the department of Wellbeing Services and Resources, Thursday, April 9, 2026, at PLU. (PLU Photo / Sy Bean)
By Britt Board
Assistant Director of Communications
Before it became a campus-wide project, the idea was simple: make it easier for students to find support when they need it.
For communications major Adrian Restrepo ’25, that idea turned into a senior capstone project to support PLU’s Wellbeing Services and Resources (WSR) – not because the services didn’t exist, but because not all students were finding them.
Working alongside WSR leadership – including Dean of Students Eva Frey – Adrian focused on this core challenge: visibility. “Dr. Frey and I discussed needs within WSR. One crucial need was expanding their marketing and outreach, not only to students but also to other departments and possible partners in the community.” Adrian set out to better understand how students engage with wellbeing services and how to reach the student population more effectively.
For Frey, what stood out most was how Adrian showed up as a collaborator. “What I have appreciated most about him is his ability to integrate into a team, add to the team culture, and bring his most authentic self. He is smart, curious, and a partner in learning and building a product that tells the essence of a department,” Frey reflects.
The project included extensive outreach to understand how people tap into WSR resources – and why some students don’t know about WSR. “We have conducted various focus groups, surveyed 10% of the student population, and connected with new stakeholders both on and off campus.”
Ultimately, Adrian’s capstone yielded a comprehensive communication strategy that WSR can employ to reach more students. Frey shares, “From the beginning, his project was built by considering WSR’s functions and testing our experience and beliefs about what we do with the students we serve. Adrian gathered over 200 responses from PLU students in a couple of days about their experiences and thoughts on WSR. His data confirmed much of what WSR staff thought we did, and it offered us a roadmap of where we need to grow.”
Within his major, Adrian chose a concentration in strategic communication and minors in nonprofit leadership and innovation studies. That combination shows up clearly in his capstone, blending messaging, strategy, and a focus on community impact.
“I am blessed and love that all the professors in the communications department have given me the freedom and opportunity to develop projects with other departments. In the real world, very few jobs are ultra-specialized, and we live in an era in which diverse skills and broad experience can be extremely valuable. I’m grateful that my professors have supported interdisciplinary work and encouraged us to think beyond the classroom.”
That interdisciplinary mindset was applied during his internship with the Tacoma Rescue Mission. “I have had incredible experiences at PLU, but one of the most memorable would be my internship with the Tacoma Rescue Mission, in which I applied all the interdisciplinary knowledge I have learned at PLU. I used entrepreneurship and networking skills from Professor Shelly Kurtz’s class, media knowledge from Dr. Brooke Phipps’ classes, and all the wisdom from Dr. Justin Eckstein, Professor Sean Robinson, and advising from Dr. Amy Young. It was a moment where everything I learned came together in a real-world scenario.”
Adrian’s interest in nonprofit work is shaped by his own life. “I was raised by a very altruistic and selfless mom, who inspired me to be compassionate. Also, as an immigrant coming to the U.S., I experienced firsthand the unmet needs that many nonprofits work to address. After leaving the Army, I saw the continued need for organizations that support veterans and service members. Those experiences inspired me to pursue the nonprofit leadership minor.”
At PLU, the ethos shaped by his mom and his life began to shape his academic path and the work he chose to pursue. College was an integral part of working towards his goals. Adrian shares, “I always dreamed of getting my bachelor’s degree. While I have always been driven, I never truly saw myself belonging in higher education. PLU changed that. It gave me a sense of belonging and made me realize that I do have a place in higher education.”
While I have always been driven, I never truly saw myself belonging in higher education. PLU changed that. It gave me a sense of belonging and made me realize that I do have a place in higher education.
After graduation, Adrian is staying busy and – much like his time at PLU – utilizing a breadth of skills and experiences. “I want to work with veteran-focused non-profit organizations while also exploring family entrepreneurship ventures. I will also be pursuing an MBA in the near future to continue building on my experience and to help me create a bigger impact in my community.”
Looking back on years of friendship, meaningful work, and connections at PLU, Adrian is feeling the pre-graduation nostalgia. “I will miss the community the most. PLU has a unique environment where anyone is welcomed and supported. It is a place in which staff, professors, and other students genuinely want to see you succeed.”
For Adrian, his PLU experiences were shaped by the people around him.