PSP is excited to be participating in Los Angeles Magazine’s Give Los Angeles Challenge! It’s a friendly fundraising campaign launched by Los Angeles Magazine where non-profit organizations compete to raise the most money with the top teams winning grand prize cash donations.

You can donate on our CrowdRise page to help us reach our goal to raise enough funds to induct 5 new students!

The campaign began on November 15, 2017 and ends on January 2, 2018 at 12:00 pm PST. Any funds raised during the campaign for PSP will be used to induct new scholars and a total of $15,000 will be given away to the top earning organization in the challenge. We’re ready to raise as much money as we can so we can win the $15,000 grand prize donation.

This is an exciting time for our 41 senior scholars as they are finalizing their applications for colleges and universities! PSP is here to provide support with your college list, understanding the application process and any fees. Below are application tips and resources from our college success retreat.

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During the month of October, we were able to reconnect with PSP scholars in southern and northern California. During these meetings, we were reminded of the special privilege of being a part of PSP and the responsibilities that come with it. Scholars came together to create and discuss their personal mission statement and steps they must take to meet their personal and communal goals.

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It’s PSP’s mission to provide both academic and cultural outings for our scholars. Museums are a fun way to learn about new topics and see interesting exhibits for all interests. Our scholars have gone to a wide range of museums this year from the Museum of Ice Cream to the Aquarium of the Bay. Our mentors and scholars share their favorite museum memories and photos with us below!

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29 PSP scholars are now high school freshman! Transitioning to high school can be difficult as students have to familiarize themselves with new facilities, classmates, and teachers. Our freshmen are making a strong transition and know they can count on the support of their mentors and PSP if they need academic or personal support. They have all been in high school for around three months now and they’re sharing their thoughts on their transition to high school with us.
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Jean Lincoln with former Ukiah scholar, Anakaren

Ten years ago, Partnership Scholars Program welcomed a small cohort of students to be the inaugural group in its second northern California location, in Ukiah. A small town about 60 miles inland from Mendocino, Ukiah is the seat of Mendocino County with a high population of low-income, minority families. With the help of the Ukiah Unified School District, PSP began working with five mentors and five students. One of those mentors included retired Mendocino College professor Jean Lincoln. In her first few years as a mentor, Jean worked closely with the program coordinator in Fort Bragg, until it became apparent that Ukiah needed to form its own leadership team. “I saw a lot of potential with the program, but it wasn’t clear where we were going,” says Jean. “We didn’t have a strong identity here in Ukiah. I wanted to have that.”

A few years later, Jean invited a friend of hers, Penny Walker, to become a mentor with PSP as well. Penny had recently retired and was a former instructor at Mendocino College. She saw a need to support students who would otherwise not be college-bound. “I realized that the students needed more support with their college applications and SATs and I wanted to be of better support in that way,” says Penny “Our local high school wasn’t doing anything about SAT prep, and I wasn’t really thrilled with what was available to the kids. I started worrying about their ability to handle applying to private schools.”

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For high school seniors, this time of the year is jam-packed with semester finals and college application deadlines. PSP seniors have their sights set on the finish line for the latter, with California State University (Cal State) and University of California (UC) applications in and many private school application deadlines coming soon. Last year, PSP’s 44 seniors sent in 145 UC applications, 105 CSU applications, and 60 private school applications. While some seniors feel the pressure, PSP scholars express feelings of relief at having been well prepared and organized, thanks to help from the program and their mentors.

Mendocino High School senior Thae S. is currently completing his Common Application to submit for Northeastern University, Loyola Marymount University, USC, Boston College and Stanford, as well as another independent application for University of Maryland. He has already applied to a number of public universities in California. He, along with other seniors, is applying to several out-of-state private schools due to college visits to the east coast with PSP.

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Freddy Cordon has had dreams of being a pilot from the age of 10. Every Sunday at church, he would see the same elderly gentleman who, at first, taught him to make paper airplanes and eventually gifted him with books about World War II fighter planes. It was during this formative time in Freddy’s life that he thought he’d someday fly, and it was through the help of PSP that he realized his dream of going away to aviation school in Dubuque, Iowa.

“I went to the information session at lunch, I really wanted to get into the program,” says Freddy recalling his introduction the program. “I had my sister’s help with the essay that I had to write, I turned it in, and got an interview. It’s still to this day one of the scariest things I ever did.” Upon entry into PSP in the 7^th grade at Kranz Middle School, Freddy was paired up with his mentor, Ray Andry and two other scholars, David and Elvin. The four spent the next six years together, going on adventures and preparing for the next big chapter: College. “Mr. Andry from the very beginning encouraged us to look at private universities,” says Freddy. “He encouraged us to go out of state – leave home for a while, be independent. So I took that advice from him.”

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