Students Rising Above

There's still time to RSVP for SRA's Virtual Open House: Rising Stars today at 4:30pm! Learn more about the dedication and goals of our program staff, and discover what students are pursuing and what life is like navigating college as an SRA student.

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3LQU6yw
This presentation will be recorded and sent to registered participants.

🎉 On Saturday, July 27th, the SRA Career Development Team hosted SRA's Annual Career Fair, welcoming all SRA students to learn from alumni, expert in the workplace and community partners! 🌟 We brought together lineup of employers from diverse industries: Biomedical Research, Energy & Water, Law, Immigration, Healthcare, Finance, Business, Entertainment, Tech, and so much more! 💼✨

Students had the chance to perfect their elevator pitches, network with industry experts, discover exciting internship and job opportunities, and even hear inspiring stories from a panel of SRA alumni! 🌐🤝 It was a day filled with dynamic conversations, invaluable connections, and boundless potential. 🚀💬

Congratulations and thank you to our Career Development team on a great resourcing event for SRA students!

A special shoutout to our event sponsors:
Lucasfilm (Industrial Lights & Magic)
JPMorganChase

And all our community and corporate partners:
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
California Public Utilities Commission
Newfront
Minami Tamaki LLP
Health Career Connection
Hack the Hood
Genentech
826 Valencia
Energy Solutions
Mission Bit
Lyft
UC Law San Francisco
Ironclad
NetApp
RSM US LLP

Thank you for supporting our work!

Want to get involved in supporting this event next year? Get in touch with us! [email protected]

SRA is pleased to announce our first Virtual Open House Series featuring the Rising Stars program! Join us virtually to explore the impactful work of the Rising Stars team and hear directly from those involved in making this program strong. Connect with fellow community members and professionals in this dynamic virtual event.

We will be highlighting SRA's programs quarterly, so stay tuned for more inspiring sessions throughout the year!

Register here: https://bit.ly/3LQU6yw. This presentation will be recorded and sent to registered participants.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of long-time volunteer and mentor Jim Wallace. For the entire Students Rising Above community, he was more than a mentor—he was a life mentor and a constant source of support, volunteering with SRA for over 18 years. Jim's legacy lives on through the lives he touched. We are so grateful for his devotion to the lives of SRA students and alumni.

SRA is delighted to co-host the 2024 Joint Convening for Elected Officials and Funders with Northern California College Promise Coalition (NCCPC) and other community partners including 10,000 Degrees, Sobrato Philanthropies, and City of Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas.

Event Summary: "Our event stands as a key gathering point for those actively involved in shaping educational policy and promoting economic mobility, those we refer to as Champions of Higher Education Equity. It’s an opportunity to delve into the collective efforts that make a real difference in the lives of students from Sacramento to the Central Valley."

To read the full press release and learn more about this event, please visit: https://bit.ly/4cv2RtL

This past Saturday, 48 SRA high school graduates attended Off to College in downtown Oakland to learn more about what to expect in their first year of college and celebrate the journey they are about to start! This one-day workshop is SRA's annual college orientation event, where students learned on topics related college life budgeting, elevator pitches for different audiences, and how to navigate SRA's new job board platform. Students also got a chance to hear from current SRA college students and alumni.
Before leaving, students wrote letters to themselves that will be delivered to them by their advisors after they graduate from college.

Congratulations High School Class of 2024! We can't wait to to be part of your college journey!

📢 We're Hiring! Director of Operations at Students Rising Above (SRA)
Join our team as a vital member of our senior leadership! We're seeking a Director of Operations to lead and optimize our internal systems, support our remote staff, and drive our mission forward. Ideal candidates have extensive senior-level operations experience, preferably in the nonprofit sector, with strong finance and HR skills.

📍 Location: San Francisco Bay Area
💼 Salary: $128,000/year
ℹ️ For more details and to apply, visit https://bit.ly/3xrW3Oq

Paula Marquez recently graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health, specializing in Data Science. Her approach to healthcare is led by her own lived experience and her care for under-served communities. Her interest in healthcare was sparked when she had the opportunity to attend the Helix Summer Medical Program at U.C. Berkeley, a program designed for underrepresented high school students to give them hands-on exposure to healthcare careers. Now as the co-director of the Helix Summer Medical Program, Paula is able to guide students like herself and nurture their enthusiasm for healthcare.
Paula is embarking on a new chapter, pursuing a Master's in Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at U.C. Berkeley. She hopes to use her expertise to create long-term policy change and improve communications of information for communities like the one she grew up in.
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With only 12 days left until June 30th, take advantage of our matching fund! We’re over 60% of the way to our $200,000 goal, and your support can make all the difference. Join us in empowering the next generation of leaders and change-makers.

Donate: https://bit.ly/4byoF6O

In 2020, 62 studies conducted across multiple disciplines found that up to 82% (https://bit.ly/4caunMD) students pursuing higher education experience imposter syndrome. This sense of self-doubt is even more acute among first-generation college students, who navigate systemic racism and micro-aggressions embedded in the academic world. For recent San Jose State University graduate and SRA Rising Stars student Lupe Barron, this experience is all too familiar. Throughout her college experience, she was challenged to reclaim her self-worth and find belonging among her Chicano and SRA community. With resourcefulness, a supportive community, and her dad’s loving encouragement, Lupe not only charted her own path but also discovered her inner strength.

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Help us reach our $200K goal by June 30th! Join us in empowering the next generation of leaders and change-makers. Your donation today will help provide the resources and opportunities our students need to thrive.

Donate: https://bit.ly/4byoF6O

Meet Celine DeVilla, a first-generation college graduate who will earn three degrees from USC this month! Growing up in East San Jose, Celine co-founded the First Generation Student Assembly at USC, exemplifying resilience, community support, and the invaluable resources provided by Students Rising Above (SRA).

Celine earned two Bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Social Science and a Master’s degree in Studies in Law for Business - milestones she never thought possible. As the first in her family to graduate from college, her accomplishments inspire her nephews, nieces and future generations to pursue higher education. Driven by her passion for understanding how legal systems impact communities, especially people of color, Celine dreams of becoming an attorney and ultimately a judge and legal professor.

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We're over halfway to our goal to raise $200K! Join us in empowering the next generation of leaders and change-makers. Your donation today will help provide the resources and opportunities our students need to thrive.

Donate: https://bit.ly/4byoF6O

Meet Celine DeVilla, a first-generation college graduate who will earn three degrees from USC this month! Growing up in East San Jose, Celine co-founded the First Generation Student Assembly at USC, exemplifying resilience, community support, and the invaluable resources provided by Students Rising Above (SRA).

Celine earned two Bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Social Science and a Master’s degree in Studies in Law for Business - milestones she never thought possible. As the first in her family to graduate from college, her accomplishments inspire her nephews, nieces and future generations to pursue higher education. Driven by her passion for understanding how legal systems impact communities, especially people of color, Celine dreams of becoming an attorney and ultimately a judge and legal professor.

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We're over halfway to our goal to raise $200K! Join us in empowering the next generation of leaders and change-makers. Your donation today will help provide the resources and opportunities our students need to thrive.

Link in bio / Donate: https://bit.ly/4byoF6O

From a first-generation college graduate to the Interim CEO of Students Rising Above, Angela's journey mirrors the paths of the students we support. Raised by a single mother in the Air Force and supported by her grandparents, Angela faced challenges typical of SRA scholars.

This graduation season, join our 'Dreams to Degrees' campaign to support first-generation students. Thanks to a generous $150K matching fund from Linda Rindt, every dollar donated by June 30th will be doubled. Make a life-changing investment in the future of our students today. Donate now: https://bit.ly/4byoF6O.

Join us in celebrating stories like Gabi's, who, with the support of our community and donors like you, navigated the challenges of being a first-generation college student and graduated with a degree in Economics. Today, she’s making a significant impact by supporting first-generation and Spanish-speaking families at Menlo School. Your support helps us continue to assist students like Gabi in reaching their educational and personal goals. Learn more about how you can make a difference and donate today! bit.ly/4drEAFT

🌍✨ This Earth Day, join us in celebrating Bertha's exciting journey to Columbia University! She's all set to embark on a degree in Environmental Chemistry, where she’ll tackle complex challenges at the intersection of science and sustainability.

We’re thrilled to support her as she prepares to make meaningful contributions to our planet’s health. Help us cheer on Bertha’s inspiring commitment to a greener future and congratulate her on her acceptance to the program and college of her choice!

SRA is honored to hold the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency on Guidestar! We are excited to share the work our nonprofit does and ensure transparent practices along the way.

Get involved and make a difference: https://bit.ly/48GSXmY

High school juniors! Feeling overwhelmed by college applications, how to pay for college, or unsure about your career path? The Rising Stars program can help! We provide college guidance, financial support, and comprehensive career development. Apply now! Deadline: March 4th, just 1 month away! https://sra.tfaforms.net/84

SRA is pleased to announce we have received a grant from the Golden State Warriors Community Foundation to support SRA students. Thank you, Golden State Warriors!

To learn more about how to get involved with SRA, visit: https://studentsrisingabove.org/join-us/

Meet Rising Stars student at Dartmouth College, Elmer Sosa. Most recently featured on KPIX CBS San Francisco Bay Area, his college and career path reflects a commitment to addressing disparities in college preparation resources. Elmer's passion for computer science and engineering goes beyond academics; he envisions using his knowledge to create meaningful social impact. Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science with minors in Latino Studies and Human-Centered Design, Elmer aspires to a success defined by personal fulfillment, community support, and global contribution.

Watch the full story: https://bit.ly/48xVm3p

Happy New Year! On behalf of all of us at SRA - THANK YOU for sharing community with us. Whether you've supported us in the past or are a new member of our community, your belief in our mission is invaluable. Your support helps us light the way for countless students as they pursue their educational dreams.

Take a peek at our recent college holiday party, where Rising Stars college students gathered together for fun games & activities, conversations with advisors, and holiday cheer during their winter break!

#2024

As we close out 2023, we take a moment to think back on the successes and milestones of SRA students. Your support fuels SRA's mission to make higher education accessible to all, ensuring that the students we serve succeed in education, career, and life. Last year, our community's generosity helped over 680 students, providing scholarships and resources crucial for their academic journey.

There's still a few days left to double your impact! Donate today https://bit.ly/3QV7Kms

We wish you and your loved ones warmth, comfort, and peace this holiday season. At SRA, we find hope and strength in our community - our students, alums, board, volunteers, donors, network of employers and community partners...and YOU!

We are dedicated to providing resources that help our students and alums find belonging as they work towards defining their own success. In a world that is constantly changing, community support has allowed us to offer a spectrum of resources, mentorship, and opportunities that equip our students to navigate their journey to define and find their own success. Thank you for your partnership in this work.

Be well, SRA Community! See you in the New Year.

For over 25 years, SRA has helped nearly 2,000 students profoundly change the course of their lives through education and careers. Yet year after year, SRA heard from hundreds more students who needed support. To answer the call, in 2018, we developed an online, cohort-based student support model called Students Online Achieving Results (SOAR). As the first-of-its-kind virtual advising program, SOAR scales the power and impact of SRA's 25 years of college and career advising expertise.
Learn more about the impact of SRA's SOAR program as shared by Alvaro, alum from the first cohort of SOAR students: https://bit.ly/3Nr8T4m

Donate today! https://sra2023.funraise.org/

SRA is committed to the economic mobility of our students. Through partnerships with over 250 employers in the Bay Area, we offer not just education but real-life experiences. These collaborations provide dedicated mentors and valuable training and experiences to prepare them as they graduate from college and start their careers.

Ruby's story is an example of the strength, resourcefulness, and determination of our SRA students. Watch the full story https://bit.ly/3uXheWN

Please give today to support the over 600 students we serve on their college-to-career journeys.

Donate: https://bit.ly/3QV7Kms

This month’s KPIX story features one of our very own advisors and SRA alumni, Rodrigo Pichardo Urbina. SRA offers wrap-around student support, which means that our advisors help students navigate the practical aspects of college and career, and they are also there for students when unexpected circumstances arise. Advisors play an instrumental role in ensuring that students can alleviate barriers in their lives and create pathways toward academic and career success.

Rodrigo credits his own SRA advisor for getting him through one of the most challenging times in his life and also inspiring him to become an SRA advisor himself.

Watch the full story on KPIX: https://bit.ly/47IOobd

At SRA, we know that the college-to-career journey is not one-size-fits-all. SRA has developed tools and resources specifically tailored to meet the needs of first-generation students from low-income backgrounds. Our experienced advisors support our students with individualized guidance, from teaching a student how to create a budget to inform their college decision, helping a student apply for and secure a meaningful summer internship in their desired field, to even ensuring a student has access to adequate healthcare and mental health support.

Check out Melissa's full story on YouTube! https://bit.ly/46r3XmD

Support SRA Students today and double your impact! https://bit.ly/3QV7Kms

There’s still a few hours left to support SRA students this Giving Tuesday! Help us reach our goal of $15,000, which could cover the cost of 24 cross-country flights so SRA students can travel home for the holidays! For students who are attending school across the country, being able to come home during winter break is really meaningful - not only for them to spend time with family and friends, but also for their communities, who now see SRA students as role models and leaders.

Donate here: https://bit.ly/3QWKoN9