Making Waves has excelled at supporting students from 5th grade through college graduation, but in today’s landscape a degree alone no longer guarantees economic mobility. CEO Patrick O’Donnell shares why he’s excited to reimagine what’s possible in expanding educational opportunity AND expanding career opportunity for our students.
“Ser parte de Making Waves cambió mi trayectoria”, dice Enrique Romero. “No tendría la formación para poder ir a la universidad”, explica él, graduado de la licenciatura en sociología por Pitzer College en California y de la maestría en políticas educativas por Harvard University en Massachusetts. Gracias al apoyo incondicional de sus padres y al acompañamiento de Making Waves, Enrique pudo tomar decisiones que lo llevaron a un futuro diferente.
Our programs provide students of color from low-income backgrounds with the educational opportunities, career skills and experiences, and financial freedom they need to meet their goals and thrive. Here are some of the highlights of what that looked like in 2024 and a preview of what’s to come in 2025.
Giovanna Barragan, a first-gen college student at USC, celebrates first-gen student day. “For me, being first-gen is to be an example for the generations after me. It means showing them that they can go for their dreams and break barriers. It’s like a special title that honors my family’s sacrifices while also planting new seeds.”
We are excited to share some incredible news – this fall, the Contra Costa County Board of Education unanimously voted to approve Making Waves Academy’s five-year charter renewal. The vote was met with both applause and tears of joy from the over 150 supporters who filled the room (with more joining online), proudly wearing Making Waves shirts and sharing the essential role Making Waves plays in the lives of students and families in the Richmond community.
As a sociology major at California State University, Stanislaus, Jezebelle Maldonado (she/her) chose an undergraduate research topic that wasn’t just about academics. It was personal. Now a first-generation college graduate with a bachelor’s degree to her name, Jezebelle is working in the healthcare field as a behavior technician and is considering a master’s degree in the future. “One thing I am taking with me from college is to not be afraid to build connections,” she said
The Making Waves Academy Career Fair is an opportunity to connect with and inspire students to explore future career pathways.
89 Bay Area students from low-income backgrounds earned $2.3 million total in college scholarships and are paired with Making Waves college coaches, financial coordinators, and career specialists.
At the 10th Making Waves Academy graduation ceremony in June 2024, Student Body President Simren Sandhu, Salutatorian Yoltzin Wallace, and Valedictorian Alessandro Torres gave compassionate speeches about their educational journeys.
Making Waves Academy was recognized among the top high schools in the 2024 U.S. News Best High Schools rankings, receiving an overall ranking of 91.84 of out 100.
College seniors in the Class of 2024 reflect on why they pursued higher education, how they found community, career experience, and connections – and what they’re exploring post-grad.
Allen Matkins became an official corporate partner of Making Waves. The partnership is focused on building the next generation of lawyers and diversifying the legal profession.
