First-generation college graduate and Wave-Maker Alison Paxtor shares all about what she learned as a first-gen college graduate to help students at the beginning or during their higher education journeys.
Through a focus on career development planning with his college coach at Making Waves, Tony Ayala landed an internship that led to a full-time job offer following his graduation from San Jose State University.
“Reaching college graduation is evidence for me that I can do anything and that I’m strong,” shared Alison Paxtor, a Wave-Maker and first-generation college graduate. Now with a newly minted degree in health sciences from California State University, East Bay, Alison has been putting her studies and her passion into action — making healthcare more equitable and improving care for underserved communities.
Making Waves Foundation’s college coaches build upon students’ strengths, help create plans for growth, support goal setting, serve as teammates, and cheer students on in reaching their graduation and other goals.
Celebrating more than 75 Making Waves Academy graduates and more than 100 Wave-Maker college graduates, plus welcoming new Wave-Makers into our college success program were among the moments that made waves this graduation season.
This year, more than 100 Wave-Makers celebrated receiving their degrees from more than 20 colleges and universities across California and the United States. Supported by Making Waves Foundation’s college success program, known as the College and Alumni Program, or CAP, the majority of Wave-Makers are first-generation college graduates. The program provides scholarships, one-to-one coaching, financial literacy services and more to support students in graduating college as quickly and with as little debt as possible.
Making Waves Foundation recently granted scholarships and one-to-one coaching support for college for 14 graduates from Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, California. 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.
Making Waves Academy celebrated its more than 75 graduating students and their families on June 14, 2022, at Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, California.
Getting ready for your internship or job? Having the intern title on your resume is one thing, but gaining new skills or seeing if the organization is a good fit is another. One of our college coaches, Danielle Hall, has teamed up with college students and alumni to share advice on how make the most of your internship experience so you can gain a better understanding of yourself and your field.
As she graduates from Cal State East Bay and moves on to work at the California State Bar, Wave-Maker and first-generation student Jennifer Diaz is taking a moment to reflect on her experiences and accomplishments, including completing a restorative justice internship and graduating with honors.
A climate activist, student body president, Wave-Maker, and graduating senior at Making Waves Academy, Lizbeth is planning to attend Harvard University this coming fall 2022 to study environmental science and engineering. She will be a first-generation college student and the first Making Waves Academy student to go to Harvard.
With graduation coming up this June 2022, 95% of Making Waves Academy seniors – known as the ‘19th Wave’ – are on track to graduate. On May 6, the school community joined seniors in commemorating their future plans at a ‘Decision Day’ event.
