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Building a Path to Success: College Success Retreat ’24

August 7, 2024 in Uncategorized

This year’s College Success Retreat drew on the knowledge of our very own alumni, volunteers & staff along with a wonderful community partners to prepare PSP scholars for college success! We spent three days together at Occidental College, and for the first time ever, our rising College Scholars were part of the retreat along with PSP’s rising 12th graders and mentors.

The theme that was repeated throughout was how important it is to be true to our own values on the college journey, wherever it takes us. This came up in discussions across categories, from college fit, to how we make financial decisions to the groups we are part of in college and the path we follow after graduation. This was integrated into an overall focus on creating a smooth path to college for each scholar.

The weekend kicked off with a presentation from three PSP alumni who just completed their first year of college. It ended with a panel of alumni who generously shared about the highs, lows and surprises of their college experiences. In between, students participated in sessions led by our partners at College Access Plan, SoCalCAN and our own volunteers and staff. 

Top left: Mason, Jaylen & Alondra, PSP Class of ’23, Kick off the Retreat Friday Night
Top Right: Alumni Ivan (’14), Sandy (’14), Miki (’23) and Rachel (’20) Close Out the Retreat on Sunday
Bottom: Mentors & Scholars at the PSP Retreat 2024

We had so many incredible sessions led by alumni, PSP mentors, community partners and our staff! Along with the workshop sessions, we did networking activities, planned skits and of course, experienced dorm life and cafeteria meals. We’re thankful to everyone who attended to make this such a fantastic weekend!

 

You can find many of the presentations in the Retreat Google Drive here and keep reading to learn more about each session and our wonderful guest speakers.

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Scholars & Mentors Kick Off the Year Together

December 6, 2023 in Uncategorized

PSP scholars and mentors kicked off the school year with an excursion in downtown LA!  The Lennox and El Monte communities met together at Grand Central Market, where we spent time together in workshops before sampling the variety of food stalls at the market.

We started the day with a workshop showing students how they can start building wealth now! Money & Milkshakes introduced the concept of Roth IRA’s and emphasized the importance of saving money at an early age. It was a very eye-opening presentation for scholars and mentors alike.

 

We followed this up with a group planning session to brainstorm outings for the rest of the year. The time spent researching proved to be very productive and dozens of events were discovered. This led to the creation of a shared PSP calendar listing all of the great ideas that were shared. A very handy tool to use for scheduling their monthly activities!  During lunch, the group had an abundance of cuisines to choose from at Grand Central Market.  Everyone received Market Dollars to spend as they pleased.  Scholars tried a variety of ethnic foods, from tacos and pupusas to ramen and noodles. Everything looked delicious! After lunch, the group rode the Angel’s Flight tram up the hill.

 

Our final stop was a guided tour of the Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure exhibit at the LA Grand. The tour guides walked us through the life of Basquiat and explained his evolution as an artist. It was an immersive experience with vibrant colors, music and lights. As one student shared about the graffiti-influenced art “This art really speaks to me!”

 

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Scholars & Mentors Enjoy College Success Retreat at USC

August 29, 2022 in Uncategorized

In early August, Partnership Scholars Program hosted the 2022 College Success Retreat at the University of Southern California. After two years of virtual retreats, we were thrilled to come together in person. Twenty-eight rising juniors and seniors from the El Monte and Lennox regions spent the weekend at the university preparing for the upcoming college application season. Students had the chance to experience college life by staying in residence halls, eating at dining halls and exploring the beautiful campus. On Sunday, we were joined by rising sophomores for workshops on mental health, financial education and to hear from PSP alumni about their college experiences.

PSP Alumni Panel: Valeria (Cal State Long Beach), Patricia (UC Irvine), Kimberly (UC Irvine), Jessica (Vassar College), and Angel (Bucknell University)

Through a series of workshops, scholars gained a better understanding about the college admissions process, financial aid and scholarships. Our wonderful mentors shared their personal college experiences and advised students during the sessions. Five PSP alumni joined scholars to share their unique paths to college. They shed light on the challenges that first generation college students face  in higher education institutions and served as a source of inspiration to their younger peers. Click here to see the agenda for the weekend.

The retreat not only focused on preparing students for the college application process but also on teaching basic financial literacy skills and promoting personal wellness. PSP partnered with The Financial Space to bring scholars an engaging session that focused on teaching students strategies to build wealth. All scholars indicated that their confidence level to build a budget increased by the end of the session. In an anonymous poll, students were asked what they learned during the presentation. One student shared, “Investing can be a good thing and passive income is something to strive for.” Another scholar expressed, “It’s possible to build generational wealth.” PSP will continue to offer opportunities throughout the year to help students acquire and strengthen their financial literacy skills.

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Congrats to the Class of ’22!

June 17, 2022 in Uncategorized

After six years of dedication to school and enriched learning, the Partnership Scholars Program Class of 2022 have achieved their college goals to head to college! See their path in pictures, from 7th grade to today:

Above, see PSP scholars from 7th grade to graduation day.  Below, our festive celebration in Los Angeles, after 2 years of virtual graduations!

On Saturday June 11th, 2022, Partnership Scholars Program celebrated our El Monte & Lennox Class of 2022 Graduates at the Japanese American National Museum in Downtown Los Angeles. The next day the Ukiah graduating scholars celebrated at the Rivino Winery. This year’s graduates had the opportunity to celebrate in person alongside family, mentors, PSP Board Members, donors and staff.

Click the links to read about the experiences of this year’s graduates!

El Monte Grads’ Reflections Lennox Grads’ Reflections Ukiah & North Coast Grads’ Reflections

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PSP Welcomes Two Alumni to Team

April 29, 2022 in Uncategorized

PSP welcomes two new employees to our team here at PSP. Stephanie Hernandez and Delma Corona will be joining us for the next four months. Stephanie joins us as a  Project Manager who will be leading the work of planning PSP events including graduation, workshops and the College Success Retreat.  Read on to learn more about our new team members!

Hello! My name is Stephanie Hernandez and I joined the PSP team as Project Manager. I am a proud PSP alumni from Lennox. I graduated from UC Irvine in 2019 and since then I’ve worked in the legal field and other non profit organizations that serve first generation students. I love reading self help books, trying new restaurants and traveling. I am extremely excited about joining the team because I understand the huge impact mentorship has in the lives of young students. As a first generation Latina, I know the challenges that can arise when seeking higher education. PSP helped me navigate those challenges through the amazing mentorship, cultural experiences and academic support. My mentor, Ms.Sanchez has played a significant role in my life by providing me constant guidance and support to this day. I can’t wait to get to know you all and provide you an enjoyable PSP experience!”

Hello PSP community! My name is Delma Corona, and I am the Program Assistant at Partnership Scholars Program. After receiving my Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Cal Poly Pomona, my primary focus is giving back to the community by being the resource to support others in achieving their career goals. As a PSP alumna, I am excited to be working alongside Lisa and Stephanie over the next few months. I will be handling outreach to students, mentors, and parents and supporting future workshops and events. In the past, I had the opportunity to work at the El Monte Promise Foundation and Harvey Mudd College Upward Bound, where I gained insight into the challenges that students face today. Remember that no matter how difficult of a challenge you might face, there is always another path to continue with your goals. I am grateful for this new opportunity, and I look forward to meeting you all soon!

Fun fact about me, I like to let my hair grow and donate it to Locks of Love, an organization that helps children suffering from medical hair loss.

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Looking Back at the 20-21 School Year

August 11, 2021 in Uncategorized

This past school year, PSP scholars and mentors have gone above and beyond to keep in touch, grow as scholar/mentor groups, and continue preparing for college—all virtually and remotely.

Scholars and mentors reflected on their past year together and created visual journals about their experiences. The submissions were astounding. They identified high points—many PSP-related events and moments with their mentors— in their lives as a PSP scholar through a virtual world.

This video captures just a few of these high points of both scholars and mentors.

Since the pandemic began, PSP has updated and changed our programming to meet our community’s needs in a holistic way. While our primary mission is to support students on their path to college and career, we’ve always taken the approach that that success comes when students get to experience a full range of learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom.

This year, students and mentors together with the PSP team rose to that challenge.

 “Thank you PSP for giving me so many opportunities…. Especially this year, my senior year, with the college applications and financial aid workshops. They were a huge help.” – Vanessa, Graduating Senior

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Meet the PSP Class of 2021!

July 19, 2021 in Uncategorized

On Sunday, June 13, 2021 students, families, mentors, and supporters of Partnership Scholars came together virtually to celebrate the accomplishments and milestones of the graduating PSP Class of 2021.

PSP Grads from 7th Grade to Today (Slideshow):

The celebration included opening remarks by Lisa Ruben, PSP’s Executive Director, and Meg Sanchez, PSP’s Board Chair. They congratulated the graduating scholars and their families. Meg told scholars that it is because of their parents’ and caregivers’ encouragement and support that they as 7th graders were in a position to be eligible for PSP. “And it’s because of them that you now have a foundation to jump to the next chapter of your life,” shared Meg.

Click here to read what scholars from all four PSP regions shared about their time in PSP. 

One of the highlights of the virtual celebration was the mentor and scholar videos. Mentors gave a few words of wisdom to their scholars they’ve mentored for nearly six years. One mentor, Cathy Rodriguez, shared to her two scholars Anthony and Eduardo, “Over the last few years, it has been a pleasure watching you both take on the many challenges and adventures and at the same time keeping an open heart and mind. Remember to never quit before you try, continue to keep your dreams big, continue to climb, and continue to aspire to excellence.”

Mentor Reflections on the Class of 2021:

Another special moment during the celebration was when students themselves spoke on their PSP experiences and shared their future endeavors.  Three scholars were selected to represent their regions and shared their own experiences and hopes for the future during the graduation:

Karla from El Monte, “It is a rewarding feeling knowing that whether we know what we want to do or not, we’re all rooting for each other and proud of each other. It’s been honor to have been surrounded by really great friends and students like them.”

Class of 2021 Reflections on their PSP Experience: 

This year, across all the regions PSP serves, 25 students graduated from the program, with scholars attending a variety of colleges, including as Colgate University, our founder’s Glenn Langer’s alma mater, UCLA, Cal Poly Pomona, and many more!

You can watch the full graduation ceremony here. 
Congratulations to the class of 2021, their families and their mentors!!

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College Success Retreat Goes Virtual

December 3, 2020 in Uncategorized

PSP transformed our annual College Success Retreat into an online event this past summer and fall due to COVID 19. All rising 11th and 12th grade scholars participated in three months of weekly workshops, instead of taking part in our usual in-person intensive on a college campus. Each week they focused on a different topic to support them in their college planning.

Scholars learned how to research and create their college and scholarship lists, learned about financial aid and reviewed the timeline and steps in the  college application process. Through an expanded partnership with The Plus Me Project, PSP scholars participated in a series of storytelling workshops where they explored their personal life stories, creating a blueprint for their college essays.

Scholars used an online tool called Jamboard to anonymously share their financial aid questions & concerns with staff and mentors.

Scholars also learned organization/time management techniques and how to put together a resume, invaluable life skills for our future young professionals. Near the culmination, scholars attended a PSP Alumni Panel where they had the opportunity to converse with our current first generation college scholars. 

(Clockwise) Thae, attending UC Santa Barbara; Alexis, attending CSU Dominguez Hills; Quisi, attending Beloit College; Kimberly, attending UC Irvine.

Click Here to Listen to the PSP Alumni Panel Discussion 

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Celebrating the Class of 2020!

June 17, 2020 in Uncategorized

On Sunday June 14, PSP’s class of 2020 celebrated their high school success and continuation to college with family, friends, mentors, board members, donors and staff through a virtual, live ceremony. Seeing the faces of so many people who make PSP the strong community that it is – scholars, mentors, parents, donors and friends from across California – brought home the strength of our inter-connectedness, even when we meet online instead of in real life.  

Over the past few months, the students in PSP’s class of 2020 have had to grapple with unforeseen challenges. The health pandemic has changed all our lives since last March. But with the guidance of their parents and PSP mentors, every graduate handled these challenges with grace and successfully completed high school and made the choice to continue their education.

PSP’s Board Chair Ray Andry had inspiring words for the graduates. “The young men and women who have participated in this program are our social justice advocates,” Ray shared, “Today you join that amazing group of individuals who have come through the Partner Scholarship Program – who are going to change the world.”

Mentors also congratulated the scholars and shared words of wisdom. Rachel Binah, the site coordinator from the North Coast region, encouraged students to “Be yourself – everyone else is taken.”

Scholars introduced themselves and shared their highlights from the past six years in the program, including college trips in the East Coast to outings to sports events.

One scholar from each region was selected to share in-depth about their PSP experience. Alexis from El Monte, Angel from Lennox, Cecilia from Ukiah and Liliana from Fort Bragg expressed intense pride and appreciation for their PSP mentors and family. There were definitely tears of joy!  

 
Liliana (Fort Bragg) Angel (Lennox)
Cecilia (Ukiah) Alexis (El Monte)

Partnership Scholars is grateful to our donors and mentors who make all of this happen. And to the parents who have lovingly trusted us by allowing their children to participate in this program.

Lastly, PSP is honored and appreciative of the scholars themselves.  We are cheering them on and looking forward to hear of all of their successes. We know it won’t be easy, but as we have seen, they can achieve anything they put their minds to.

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A Statement of Support and Hope

June 10, 2020 in Uncategorized

The murder of George Floyd, following the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and the many other Black people going back generations, has sparked protest around the globe and in our home cities. We at PSP share your struggle with the intense feelings that these killings bring up – heartbreak, anger, fear, helplessness. My hope for our world is that this moment will be one step a path that ends in true and swift reform of our culture and institutions so that not one more life will be taken.

Partnership Scholars Program was founded in the belief that every child has a right to an education and that no child should be limited by their environment. We believe that everyone must have the opportunity to achieve their goals and create the life they want to live. Without equity and true justice that goal can never be achieved.

At our core PSP wants our community of students, volunteers and alumni to feel safe; to have hope for the future; to live in a world that is just. We believe that Black lives matter and that the arbitrary killing of Black and Brown people is the true injustice in our world. We’ll continue to seek equity by lifting up PSP students and mentors as they contribute to creating a better world. 

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

                        – Martin Luther King, Jr, Letter from a Birmingham Jail

All of us at PSP are committed to fighting injustice and oppression, and creating equal opportunity for all. In our staff and board meetings, we’ll be asking ourselves how we can embody an anti-racist and anti-discriminatory philosophy in all our work.

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