14 Pittsburg High School Graduates Earn Scholarships and Coaching for College from Making Waves Foundation
by Bonnie Shea
Graduates have plans to attend colleges from Howard University to San Francisco State University
Making Waves Foundation recently granted scholarships and one-to-one coaching support for college for 14 graduates from Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, California.
“We are proud of Pittsburg High School’s Class of 2022 and we are excited to welcome these deserving graduates into our Making Waves community,” shared Dr. Kristina Wright, coaching services manager at Making Waves Foundation.
“Each of these students has a passion for learning and dreams of obtaining a degree to enable them to give back to their families and communities. They are truly agents of change and Making Waves is excited to be a part of their journey,” she said.
Scholarships and coaching to get to and through college
Now going into its third year, the partnership between Making Waves Foundation and Pittsburg High School supports juniors and seniors in gaining information and making informed decisions about college – ranging from workshops on academics to admissions to financial aid.
The partnership also provides the opportunities for Pittsburg High School graduates to join Making Waves Foundation’s college success program, known as the College and Alumni Program, or CAP, which provides scholarships, one-to-one coaching, financial literacy services and more to support them on their path to college graduation.
The 14 students joining the Wave-Maker community from Pittsburg are planning to go to a range of four-year colleges and universities as well as two-year community colleges. The majority will be first-generation college students.
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 supports more than 500 college students from across the Bay Area as well as a network of more than 500 alumni.
“Our hope is that through our partnership with Pittsburg we are able to expand and support more students throughout Contra Costa County as they navigate the path to obtaining a college degree,” said Dr. Wright, who recently celebrated her 20-year anniversary working at Making Waves Foundation.
Five students attending HBCUs
“This scholarship and coaching means everything to me from Making Waves as without this scholarship I might not have gained the opportunity to attend Howard University,” shared Brandon Williams, who is planning to study information systems and is one of five students within the cohort planning to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs.
“The best part is I know that they’re going to be there throughout the whole experience,” shared Re’Niyah Oliver, who is planning to attend Texas Southern University to study business.
Brenten Williams, who is also planning to attend Texas Southern University to study business, shared a similar sentiment, saying: “It means a lot having a team by my side as I go through this journey.”
“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 Foundation.
“We’re thrilled to welcome our 14 newest Wave-Makers in our college success program, which provides academic, career, community, financial, and wellness support based on students’ unique identity, interests, and aspirations,” he said.
Three students planning to study nursing
Three students within this wave of Pittsburg High School graduates are planning to study nursing. “I plan to major in nursing because I’ve always been interested in the human anatomy and helping people,” shared Ciara Aurecia Barnes, who is planning to attend California State University, Long Beach.
Erika Galvez, who is planning to attend San Francisco State University, shared a similar sentiment, saying: “I have a passion for helping others and [the nursing] field needs people like myself.”
Likewise, Yesenia Nunez, who is planning to attend Los Medanos College and is hoping to give back through nursing, shared: “The Making Waves scholarship helps me feel a little more confident going to college.”
Pittsburg graduates making waves in college
In addition to the 14 newest Pittsburg High School graduates, Making Waves Foundation supports 18 more students who graduated from Pittsburg High School in 2020 and 2021 and are currently at colleges ranging from Sacramento State University to Southern University and A&M College to UC Berkeley to UC Davis.
One Wave-Maker, Manuel Jacobo Gonzalez, a Class of 2022 Pittsburg High graduate, is following the higher education path of his brother, Anthony Jacobo Gonzalez, who is a Wave-Maker going into his second year at UC Davis. Manuel is planning to attend the City College of San Francisco this fall.
“The scholarship and the coaching means a lot to me,” he shared.
About the Making Waves partnership in Pittsburg
ABOUT MAKING WAVES FOUNDATION
With a unique focus on college attendance and graduation, Making Waves Foundation supports historically underrepresented and underserved students in pursuing their dreams. Making Waves Academy is a public charter school in Richmond, California, educating more than 1,100 students and Making Waves Foundation’s college success program, known as the College and Alumni Program, provides coaching, scholarships, financial literacy, and career support for more than 500 college students as well as a network for more than 500 Wave-Maker alumni.
