Making Waves at Pittsburg High School
Explore the possibilities of your future
Making Waves Education Foundation provides college advising services and scholarships and coaching that encourage students in discovering themselves, growing their strengths, navigating college life, and reaching their career dreams.
Since 2020 Making Waves Education Foundation has been partnering with Pittsburg Unified School District and Pittsburg High School, providing college planning workshops as well as the opportunity for selected seniors to receive scholarships and college coaching.
Pittsburg Graduates Reaching Their College Dreams
Hear more from Pittsburg High graduates about their experiences working with Making Waves.
Quick Links
Workshops
Our college advising and planning workshops are designed to equip juniors and seniors with knowledge and tools to support your success.
24/7 Text Support
Our free AI college advisor answers questions about college admissions, decisions, and financial aid – when you need it, direct to your phone.
Scholarships
Our college and career success program offers scholarships, coaching, and budget planning to support you on your path to college graduation and your first job.
“Being a part of Making Waves Foundation allows me to graduate college and provide a better lifestyle for my family. Helping me pay for tuition and providing me with an amazing coach have both been fundamental to my sanity. I really appreciate them, and everything they do in helping me break generational barriers.”
Anthony Jacobo Gonzalez, Pittsburg High Graduate and Wave-maker at UC Davis
Making Waves College Planning Services
When it comes to college, it can be hard to know where to begin. Our college planning services provide the information you need about college admissions, decisions, and financial aid – when you need it – so you can make the most informed choices about higher education and your future.
Our college advising services include hybrid programming: on-site senior seminars and 1:1 advising as well as online resources and text support.
“The best part is I know that they’re going to be there throughout the whole experience,” shared Re’Niyah Oliver (left), who is attending Texas Southern University to study business.
Brenten Williams (right), who is also attending Texas Southern University to study business, shared: “It means a lot having a team by my side as I go through this journey.”
2022-23 Workshop Schedule
Our workshops are designed to equip Pittsburg High School juniors and seniors with knowledge and tools to support your success. Each workshop is comprised of information as well as interactive self-reflection components. While our focus is on students and their experiences, we welcome parents and guardians to join the sessions along with their students.
| DATE | Session Type | Topic |
| September 14 | Introductions and 1:1 Meetings | Who is Making Waves Foundation? Why are we here at Pittsburg High School and how can we help support your college journey? |
| September 21 | Session #1 | Finding the Best Fit for Your College Experience |
| October 12 | 1:1 Meetings | |
| October 19 | Session #2 | Making a Balanced College List and Exploring College Affordability |
| November 9 | Session #3 1:1 Meetings | Learning About Financial Sustainability in College Planning |
| December 7 | 1:1 Meetings | |
| December 14 | Session #4 | Making the “Best” Choice for Your College Decision |
| February 1 | Re-Introductions and 1:1 Meetings | Who is Making Waves Foundation? Why are we here at Pittsburg High School and how can we help support your college journey? |
| February 8 | Session #5 | Learning About Financial Sustainability in College Planning |
| March 1 | 1:1 Meetings | |
| March 8 | Session #6 | Navigating How to Best Utilize the Resources Available to Support Your College Journey |
| April 5 | 1:1 Meetings | |
| May 3 | Session #7 | Preparing for Your First Year of College |
For more information and to attend a session or meeting at Pittsburg High School, please contact Director of Learning and Design at Making Waves Foundation Dr. Kristina Wright at kwright@making-waves.org.
24/7 Text Support
Reduce unnecessary stress. Get free college advising, direct to your phone.
Our free AI college advisor helps streamline the college admissions process so that more students can earn that diploma. This includes:
- Universal, instant access
- No locked content and no fees
- Multilingual knowledge base
To sign up to receive text messages from Making Waves’ AI-powered college advisor, please fill out this brief webform.
More College and Career Resources
Navigating the Hidden Curriculum: From Office Hours to Networking
September 19, 2023
Free Campus Resources Every College Student Should Know
September 6, 2023
Making Waves College and Career Success Program
Don’t overpay for college. Apply for our scholarship program.
Our college and career success program offers scholarships, coaching, and budget planning to support you on your path to graduating college with minimal to no debt and set up for your first job.
Our students, known as Wave-Makers:
- Graduate from college at twice the rate of their peers
- 84% earn their degrees debt-free
Program Benefits
- Scholarship: up to $5,000 of need-based scholarship funding annually (award amount vary, for a maximum of 5 years)
- College and Career Coaching: individualized college coaching
- Budget Planning: a personal financial coordinator
- Career Planning: professional and peer networking opportunities
Student Eligibility
- Plan to attend a four-year college or university
- Have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) below $5,000 (from the FAFSA or Dream Act Application)
- Graduate of Pittsburg High School (note: students are accepted to our program during their senior year)
Application
The Making Waves Education Foundation scholarship application for Pittsburg High School opens in January 18, 2023 and closes February 20, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Decisions will be made the week of March 27, 2023.
Wave-Maker Stories
Finding and Prioritizing Yourself in College
March 10, 2023
Top 22 Stories That Made Waves in 2022
December 19, 2022
More College Planning Resources
Paid College Visits
Many college and universities provide paid visit experiences for first-generation college students (students who are the first in their families to go to college), for students who would otherwise not be able to afford campus visits, and/or underrepresented students. These programs are known as “fly-ins.”
- Learn more about these programs and other opportunities to explore what universities have to offer and their support for diversity and inclusion: Coalition for College’s Fly-In Programs and Diversity Visit Experiences
Scholarships
In addition to Making Waves Education Foundation’s scholarships, there are numerous other scholarship opportunities.
- Check out scholarships through APIA Scholars (Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars)
- Find a list of scholarship providers through Access Scholarships
Contact Information
We are here for you!
Dr. Kristina Wright
Vice President of Student Success