Making Waves program offers college scholarships, coaching, and more
Making Waves Education Foundation awarded 15 Pittsburg High School graduates an annual college scholarship. In addition to the scholarship, Making Waves’ college and career success program partners each student with a college coach, financial coordinator, and career specialist.
This holistic partnership throughout their college and career journey aims to support students in overcoming obstacles and thriving in college and beyond.
Dr. Kristina Wright, vice president of student success at Making Waves Education Foundation, was fundamental in the success of programming this year. Dr. Wright hosted events on Pittsburg High School’s campus, inviting students to actively participate in conversations about college and about applying for the Making Waves Education Foundation scholarship.
Scholarship recipients celebrated becoming Wave-Makers at Pittsburg High School’s scholarship assembly. Each student received a certificate from Dr. Wright and, later on, a Making Waves stole to wear to their high school graduation.
2023 Pittsburg High School Scholarship Recipients
These newly minted Wave-Makers have diverse plans for their higher education.
- Robert Adams, University of California, Berkeley
- Beatriz Aragon, University of California, Los Angeles
- Tyeila Banks, Grambling State University
- Jazaria DeVoe- Harris, Barry University
- Dayan Guzman, University of California, Davis
- Kimora Henry, Louisiana State University
- Erick Jones, Alabama State University
- Isabella Lopez, San Francisco State University
- Elaine Luu, University of California, San Diego
- Dayannara Martinez, San Francisco State University
- Maria Michel Martinez, University of California, Davis
- Joseph Quintero, California State University, East Bay
- Yousef Saad El Din, University of California, Berkeley
- Anthony Soltero, University of California, Davis
- Dulce Yauger, University of California, Davis
In mid-June, graduates joined an additional 100+ Wave-Makers from the high school class of 2023 for First Year Kickoff, an event dedicated to prepping students for entry into Making Waves’ college and career success program. Besides meeting other Bay Area Wave-Makers, students met their coaches, learned how to maximize their benefits in the program, and prepared for their college life.
“Welcoming our incoming freshman at First Year Kickoff brought new exciting energy into our Making Waves Education Foundation office space,” shared Senior College Coach Manager Ayasha Tripp.
“My heart was full of so much joy to see how comfortable our students engaged with staff. We were planting the seeds of community and the partnerships between student, coach, and financial support coordinators were blossoming right before our eyes. It was a full day filled with fun, information, excitement, and community. I’m looking forward to seeing how our partnership grows with these new group of students and what amazing things they will accomplish as they begin their college journey.”
For more than 30 years, Making Waves has been committed to creating more equity in education. The foundation supports Making Waves Academy, a public charter school in Richmond, California, and through its college and career success program, supports more than 500 college students from across the Bay Area as well as a network of more than 600 alumni. The foundation’s program alumni earn their degrees and land jobs at more than twice the rate of their first-generation, low-income peers, with 84% graduating debt-free.
“Making Waves believes all students should have access to an excellent education, the agency to pursue their dreams, and the support to help them succeed,” shared Patrick O’Donnell, CEO of Making Waves Education Foundation.
“We’re thrilled to welcome our 15 newest Wave-Makers in our college and career success program, which provides academic, career, community, financial, and wellness support based on students’ unique identity, interests, and aspirations,” he said.
With this new cohort, Making Waves Education Foundation is now supporting nearly 50 students who graduated from Pittsburg High School during from 2020 through 2023 and are currently at colleges ranging from Sacramento State University to Southern University and A&M College to UC Berkeley to UC Davis. With their determination and the support of the community, these graduates are poised to make waves in college and beyond, creating a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
