Meet Your Support Team

Match Support Specialists

Grade 9

William Bendaw - ABHS
william.bendaw@bbbs-cnm.org

My name is William Bendaw and I have been with BBBS & Mentor2.0 for six years.

I have enjoyed my four years at South Valley Academy and my two years at Amy Biehl High.

I believe my role as a support specialist is to help students wherever and how ever I can. I believe all kids have skills and talents that they may or may not know of. My job is to recognize, and help develop that talent in any way I can. One way I can support those students and their talents is by introducing them to the Mentor2.0 program where they can find a caring, engaged and supportive Mentor who will be an invaluable resource not only throughout their high school careers, but possibly years through and beyond college!!

I feel blessed and honored to play a small part in the lives of ABHS students and their families!


Grade 10

Adrien Ruvalcaba - ABHS
adrien.ruvalcaba@bbbs-cnm.org

Adrien is a mentor to a South Valley Academy student and is an avid gamer. One cool job that Adrien has had before is being a Private Investigator!


Alexandria Aragon - SVA
alexandria.aragon@bbbs-cnm.org

I have my BA in Sociology & Political Science with a minor in Human Services from UNM.


Before BBBS, I was in college at UNM (graduated May 2021) & worked for the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology (worked there until the pandemic hit ☹).


I love working with the students, being able to get to know them and hopefully help guide them through their high school experience. They teach me so much as well!

Grade 11

Rudolfo "Rudy" Carrillo - ABHS
rudolfo.carrillo@bbbs-cnm.org

Rudolfo Carrillo is a native New Mexican and was the news and music editor at Weekly Alibi from August 2015 until March 2020, where he used the pen name “August March” to write about Albuquerque culture, history and politics. Carrillo’s writing and analysis have been featured in a plethora of world-wide media sources, as well as local outlets like the Albuquerque Journal and Daily Lobo. An accomplished painter and conceptual artist, Carrillo is a graduate of the University of New Mexico’s fine arts program.


Carrillo was the GED program manager at Brookline College/IIA College, where he also served as an instructor in the computer software division of the business department; prior to that, Carrillo taught algebra, economics and special education for five years at APS, notably at Rio Grande High School and Manzano High School. As the technical director at UNM’s Keller Hall, Carrillo worked with upcoming music students and notable performance faculty.


Adrian Rascon - SVA
adrian.rascon@bbbs-cnm.org

I am Adrian Rascon the 11th-grade Match Support Specialist. I have been with BBBS for over two years now. In my time here I have worked with multiple grade levels and our two school partners. My passion is being able to get the most out of our students so that they may achieve their fullest potential!

Grade 12

Victor Caraveo - Assistant Manager and ABHS Lead
victor.caraveo@bbbs-cnm.org

I am a former engineer, fascinated with human behavior and very much interested in helping students reach their full potential. I have an MS in Mechanical Engineering with experience as a component and process engineer at Sandia National Labs. More recently, I graduated with a BS in Psychology from the University of New Mexico. I struggled with finding a fulfilling career for a large portion of my adult life. As a Match Support Specialist, I have found great satisfaction in connecting students with mentors in the community and in helping support them to help the students discover their interests, abilities, and helping them to navigate a path forward towards a career suitable for them. This valuable opportunity is something I did not have access to growing up and I am grateful to be a part of helping to develop healthier communities through the mentor2.0 program. Click here for a full bio.


Kirsten Bird - SVA Lead
kirsten.bird@bbbs-cnm.org

Kirsten is the Lead Match Support Specialist at South Valley Academy and works with the 12th grade. She has her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Grand Canyon University. She graduated in December 2018 and has worked with Non-Profits since then. Kirsten is very family oriented and loves to explore the outdoors or play board games, video games, and outdoor games with friends and family.


Before working with BBBS, she was a Behavioral Specialist helping to teach and encourage healthy coping skills. She coaches an elementary school cheer team in Moriarty, New Mexico and has been with them for 2 going on 3 years.


Working with youth is a passion to continue providing a better future for everyone, and helping littles understand everything life can teach us! We don’t just teach the youth we work with, we get the pleasure of learning something different everyday from them as well.


mentor2.0 Management Support

Mandy Garrett - Associate Manager of Education Programs
mandy.garrett@bbbs-cnm.org

Mandy has a BA in Organizational Communications and

worked for the United States Postal Service 19 years. She has volunteered as a youth leader at Sagebrush church for 10 years and has been married for 4 years.


I work for BBBS because my passion has always been supporting children in various capacities.

Deanna Sauceda - Education Director
deanna.sauceda@bbbs-cnm.org

Hello! I have a BA in Technical Journalism from Colorado State University and I was an anchor for the CBS/Fox affiliate here in Albuquerque for many years. I have had a wonderful ride of unique careers; National Office of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Intel, Executive Director of a high volume spay/neuter clinic in the DFW metroplex, and a flight attendant and purser for a large charter airline.


I recently moved back to NM and I am excited and honored to be working once again for my beloved Big Brothers Big Sisters and especially the mentor2.0 program. The most powerful way to make a difference in our community is to make a difference for our children and this program makes a huge difference for our high schoolers.