Program Information
Making Waves Foundation’s College and Alumni Program, known as CAP, is a college success program that provides need-based scholarship funding, one-to-one college coaching, and financial literacy training for first-generation and underserved students in the Bay Area, focusing particularly on students from Contra Costa County.
Our expert team knows from experience that college completion is a game-changer for first-generation students and their families. Coaches help students refine their life dreams—and then pursue them. The goal is to enable motivated students facing systemic barriers to earn a college degree or credential, as quickly and with as little debt as possible.
Since 1989, our students and alumni, known as Wave-Makers, have been a part of cohorts, known as Waves, from Richmond (now Making Waves Academy), San Francisco, Pittsburg, and the greater Bay Area. Currently, we support students from Making Waves Academy, Pittsburg, and the Bay Area.
Making Waves Academy (Richmond, California)
As part of its commitment to rigorously and holistically prepare students to graduate from college, Making Waves Academy graduates have the opportunity to enroll in Making Waves Foundation’s College and Alumni Program, known as CAP.
Program Benefits
- Individualized College Coaching
- A personal Financial Services Coordinator
- Up to $5,000 of need-based scholarship funding annually (for a maximum of 6 years)
- Professional and peer networking opportunities
Student Eligibility
- Graduate of Making Waves Academy (note: students must enroll in our program during their senior year)
- Gained admission to a college or university
Current Program Status
Making Waves Academy students currently opt-in to the program.
Contact information
If you have questions about this program, please email info@making-waves.org.
Pittsburg, California
In 2020, Making Waves Foundation developed the CAP Pittsburg program with Pittsburg Unified School District and Pittsburg High School, providing college-readiness workshops as well as the opportunity for selected seniors to receive scholarships and college coaching.
Our team has been working closely with Pittsburg High School’s college counselors, principal, and others to design this initial program. The effort aims to help socioeconomically disadvantaged youth be prepared to enroll in college and ultimately graduate in a timely manner with little to no debt.
Our workshops are designed to equip juniors and seniors with additional tools that will support their future 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.
Program Benefits
- Individualized College Coaching
- A personal Financial Services Coordinator
- Up to $5,000 of need-based scholarship funding annually (for a maximum of 5 years)
- 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 be accepted to our program during their senior year)
Current Program Status
This program’s application period for Pittsburg High School students is not currently open.
Contact information
If you have questions about this program, please email capphs@making-waves.org. Please put “Workshop Question” or “Scholarship Question” in the subject line depending on your question.
If you’d like to know more about supporting our expansion in Contra Costa County, please email development@making-waves.org.
Bay Area, California
In 2015, Making Waves Foundation developed the CAP Bay Area program, serving high school graduates from the nine Bay Area counties to and through college. The program accepted its fifth and final cohort of Bay Area students in 2020.
In total, this program has admitted 500 college students with more than 170 of these students having graduated so far.We currently have more than 300 students enrolled in college from this program with an intended program end date of 2025. These students will continue to take full advantage of the coaching and scholarship support we provide and participate as lifelong alumni of our community.
Program Benefits
- Individualized College Coaching
- A personal Financial Services Coordinator
- Up to $5,000 of need-based scholarship funding annually (for a maximum of 5 years)
- Professional and peer networking opportunities
Student Eligibility
- Graduate of high school (note: students must enroll in our program during their senior year)
- Gained admission to a four-year college or university
- Have an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) below $5,000 (from the FAFSA or Dream Act Application)
- At the time of application, students were attending high school in one of the nine Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma
Current Program Status
This program is no longer accepting applications.
Contact information
If you have questions about this program, please email capbayarea@making-waves.org.
What’s so special about our college coaching model?
Hear May Melehan, director of college coaching, and Wave-Maker Lupita talk about our unique college coaching model, focused on supporting students in reaching their potential.
What’s it like to be a first-generation graduate?
Hear from Christian, a Wave-Maker who graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University after being a part of the first class to graduate from Making Waves Academy.
What does the coaching relationship look like?
Hear from Wave-Maker Jamaya and Dr. Kristina Wright, college coaching services manager, about Jamaya’s journey to college and finding success.