On February 5, 2016 two Fort Bragg scholars got to show off their photography in a a show organized by their mentor Denise DeLuise. Last summer, Partnerships Scholars Program was able to send Fort Bragg scholars Celeste (15) and Esme (17) to attend the 2015 Photography Summer Camp course for a week in Brooklyn, New York at the SOCAPA (School Of Creative And Performing Arts). During their time at the camp, Esme and Celeste stayed in the dorms at Poly-Tech University for one week. They spent their second week spent exploring NYC with their mentor, Denise. Both scholars described their experience in New York as completely life changing. This February, they got to share their new-found passion for photography at a gallery show!

You can read short essays by Esme and Celeste about this experience. Below are a few excerpts from essays the scholars wrote about their experiences.

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PSP founder Dr. Glenn Langer was honored by the UCLA Faculty Women’s Club on February 2, 2016 for creating Partnership Scholars Program. You can see more about Glenn, and about PSP, in the UCLA FWC announcement! PSP Board Chair Meg Sanchez spoke about all the organization has accomplished over the past 20 years. Two of PSP’s most recent alumni, who are now Bruins themselves, spoke at the ceremony as well. Ivan Garcia and Sandra Estrada spoke movingly of the role that PSP, their mentors, and Dr. Langer had in shaping their lives.

As Sandra said in her speech, “As a 7^th grader, I did not know much about what Dr. Langer and the Partnership Scholars Program had in store for us, but as a first year UCLA student, I can testify that it was one heck of a ride. A ride that I will forever be grateful for.” You can read Sandra’s full speech here. And here she is enjoying a game with Josephine Bruin!

Dr. Langer and his late wife, Marianne, made experiences like Sandra’s possible for hundreds of California students when he founded PSP. With the help of our many mentors, donors and supporters, he has helped transform the lives of so many children and families though his vision of educational and cultural opportunity for all.

This year, PSP welcomed 32 new scholars into Partnership Scholars Program. These students completed a rigorous application process that included responding to essay questions, providing letters of recommendation and, for the finalists, sitting through a panel interview. Each young student who joins our program demonstrates that they are ready to embark on the six-year journey that will culminate in their attendance at an institution of higher education. Each of our new students has a mentor who will expose them to new cultural experiences and educational opportunities.

Our new scholars are an inspiring class; each has a personal story that speaks of hope, motivation, courage and most of all, a dream for the future. The words of one student are representative of almost all our newest scholars: “I am looking forward and excited to attend college and being the first [in my family] is a huge accomplishment for me.”   Another new scholar, who aspires to become a doctor, envisions her life as an adult: “I would be financially stable, in my own doctor’s office with a lot of patients, and with a loving family.”

We are excited and honored to help the class of 2021 as they explore the world and pursue their dreams!

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PSP sponsors make it possible for each scholar to have a six-year scholarship that supports a wide range of cultural and academic activities with their mentors.

Thank you to the sponsors of the class of 2021!

Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Boyce
Mr. and Mrs. Brownrigg
Dr. Glenn Langer
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Masson
Oder Family Foundation
Mr. Tom Turner
Mr. Tomek Ulatowski

Today, on National Thank Your Mentor Day, we want to thank the hundreds of dedicated volunteers, past and present, who have mentored PSP scholars.

PSP mentors help their scholars in immeasurable ways. They encourage them to dream big, help them see the world in new ways, and help them through challenges. PSP mentors instill the belief in each of our scholars that they belong in college, and they help their scholars achieve that goal.

Having a mentor empowers young people to make smart choices that put them on a path to making better life decisions. Mentoring is linked to improved academic, social and economic prospects. We see that in the outcomes of our alumni: 90% of PSP graduates have gone directly to a four-year college!

As Dr. Langer has stated many times, “Our program is only as good as our mentors.” Thank you from scholars, past, present and future, and from the PSP Board of Directors, for taking time to provide students with opportunities they would otherwise miss out on. We are very appreciative of the work you do.  

– Meg Sanchez, Board Chair

Partnership Scholars Program is seeking to hire a contract bookkeeper who will work under the supervision of the Executive Director and a CPA. The position is ideal for someone excited to learn about non-profit financial administration or anyone looking to supplement their school or work schedule. This person will work 5-10 hours a week at the PSP office in Lennox/Inglewood.

Click here for the full job description. To apply, email a cover letter and resume to partner@partnershipscholars.org.

PSP held its 4^th annual College Retreat on August 1 and 2, 2015.  Fifty rising juniors and seniors and nine mentors attended this two-day event on the beautiful campus of Claremont McKenna College.  They participated in an array of workshops, ranging from learning about college entrance exams to understanding how to write an effective personal statement. Scholars also had the opportunity to hear from PSP alumni from UC Berkeley, UCLA, CSU Bakersfield, UC Riverside and Northwestern about their experience as first generation college students.  The Claremont Colleges contributed to our event by hosting an information session with Admissions Directors from Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College and Pomona College. The Financial Aid Director from Claremont McKenna was also present to offer resources and answer questions for students. Scholars left the retreat prepared to navigate the college application process over the next two years. PSP staff and mentors will continue to support the scholars on their path to college, armed with new information and resources.

Here are some resources from this year’s retreat:

1. College List

2. Brag Sheet

3. Test Dates

4. Community Service Options

5. College Board-Junior Year Timeline

6. College Board-Senior Year Timeline

7. Anatomy of a College Application

8. College Entrance Exams

9. Tips for Writing the College Application Essay

10. Financial Aid-Senior Year Calendar

Congratulations to Partnership Scholars’ Graduates!

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Six years ago, you embarked on this journey as Partnership Scholars.  You were selected because we saw you possessed the motivation to get the most out of this program and succeed in achieving your goals. During your time as Partnership Scholars, you learned much and had many new eye-opening experiences with your mentor. Activities ranging from ballets, sporting events and museum visits, to the test prep, college and financial aid applications that are necessary to secure your academic future –  These experiences helped shape who you are today.

Please click here to read what each member of the PSP Class of 2015 said about their experience as a Scholar: 2015 Graduate Essays

Over these six years, we have seen you grow tremendously and we are confident that you are ready for your next challenge in life: college!

College will be another new, exciting and challenging experience. This will be yet another period of discovery, as you hone your interests and prepare for your future. We know that you will succeed in college because you have been taught to believe in yourself by your parents, mentors, teachers and sponsors. Graduation is the time to celebrate your educational success. Take some time to ponder on how far you’ve come and know that the best is yet to be seen.

As Dr. Seuss said, “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so…get on your way!”

PSP Board of Trustees and Staff

PSP is proud to introduce our newest class of scholars! The PSP Class of 2020 is made up of 36 seventh grade students from four regions across California. Each of these students participated in a rigorous application process that included writing essays about their personal histories and goals, a review of their grades to ensure academic excellence, and in-person interviews with a panel of community and school leaders. As Partnership Scholars, they will receive six years of academic support, exposure to new cultural opportunities and consistent guidance toward the college of their choice from 7^th grade through high school graduation.

These students represent the core value of PSP: that every student who dreams of college and a successful future, no matter their socio-economic status, deserves the opportunity to achieve that dream.

The Lennox Scholars:
Marcos Alarcon
Osvaldo Barba
Jennifer Corrales
Anthony Gaxiola
Valeria Gonzalez
Jennifer Hernandez
Darwin Perez de Pablo
Jessica Porras
Nayeli Salgado
Angel Santos
Katherine Solis
Lizeth Valdovinos

The El Monte Scholars:
Steven Aguilar
Joseph Almaraz
Alexis Cobos
Sergio Gonzalez
Magdiel Iribe
Rita Kuang
Cindy Lee
Angelina Lopez-Mendez
Andy Pena
Rachel Perez
Juan Rico
Denisse Tafolla

Fort Bragg/Mendocino Scholars
Fernanda Varelas Ramirez
Alexander Renteria
Kenly Reyes
Liliana Duran
Blair Byrd
Raina Harbour
Vienna Westcott

Ukiah Scholars:
Emma Capri
Joseph Goodwin
Jonathan Regalado
Cecilia Sandoval

These are truly impressive students and we know they will go far!

Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez wrote a moving tribute to a retiring reporter who made a big difference in the life of PSP. You can read the full column online using the link at the bottom of this post. Check out the references to the ‘retired UCLA cardiologist’ who founded Partnership Scholars Program – that’s our own Dr. Langer! PSP owes so much to this wonderful, thoughtful reporter, who indirectly changed hundreds of lives. Learn more about him here:

PSP Scholars from Lennox, El Monte and Wiseburn got to experience a full day of USC’s homecoming extravaganza on November 18! PSP alum Jesus Herrera, who is now working toward his Master’s Degree at USC, started the day with a tour of the USC campus. The scholars and mentors were then treated to something few members of the public get to experience: a private tour of the McKay Center, USC’s new  $70 million athletic facility that is closed to the public. Everyone then headed over to the L.A. Coliseum where we watched the USC Trojans trounce the Colorado team.

We are so thankful for the commitment of our two volunteer mentors who arranged this whole day for us. Mark and Barbara Lurie are wonderful mentors with an inside line to USC: Mark is a cardiologist for the USC athletic department!