Edhat Reader
By Mission Scholars
This summer, Mission Scholars organized a “College Success Summer Series” for its recent high school graduates aimed at ensuring a seamless and successful transition into their first year of college. This series follows a year of remarkable achievements by the Class of 2023 Scholars: a year during which 90% of the cohort enrolled in four-year universities, and in which 95% of their combined cost of attendance was covered by grants and scholarships. This workshop series will further ensure the success of these first-generation college students by equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the world of higher education.
To prepare the Scholars for their upcoming college journey, Mission Scholars curated three key events, each tailored to address specific challenges they may encounter in their academic pursuits. The highly anticipated inaugural “Professor Perspective Workshop Series” served as the first milestone of this comprehensive program. During a sunny morning in late June, the Scholars gathered around a seminar table to engage in a stimulating discussion about the works of Plato and James Baldwin. Leading this exchange was Professor Nicole Callahan, TOMS Core Faculty Fellow, and Lecturer for Contemporary Civilization at Columbia University.
Before these two mock lectures, the Scholars were required to review a college syllabus and complete assigned readings, replicating the expectations of a genuine college classroom.
“My goal is to give you a sense of the way I conduct a college class, and the speed at which I move,” Dr. Callahan told the class.
Each morning, she presented them with challenging questions about the material, honing their ability to articulate their thoughts aloud and analyze complex—and sometimes uncomfortable—texts. On the third and final day of the series, the Scholars were given the opportunity to attend Professor Callahan’s mock college office hours. These individual meetings aimed to help them understand the importance of connecting with their professors in college, another pivotal aspect of their academic journey.
Katie Kinsella, Director of Operations, expressed her enthusiasm for the transformation that occurred during the workshop series, stating, “I was incredibly moved by the growth from the first day to the last day of the series. Students came in extremely nervous for a mock college class and mock office hours with a professor, full of self-doubt and uncertainty. By the last day, however, they walked out empowered, confident, and ready.”
In addition to the Professor Perspective Workshop Series, Mission Scholars organized a three-day college study skills workshop led by Paul Rivas, a nationally-recognized study skills expert and author of This Book Will Not Be on the Test. Recognizing the academic challenges of transitioning to college, Rivas expertly guided the Scholars through meticulous note-taking and scheduling strategies, while also offering guidance on navigating the myriad academic resources available on college campuses.
The final event for Mission Scholars’ recent graduates was the Leaders in Transition (LIT) Kickoff. This event was strategically designed to prepare the Scholars for career development success as college students. The LIT Kickoff featured a career panel comprising esteemed leaders from local business, healthcare, and tech companies, including Sensata Technologies, Cottage Hospital, and Mission Wealth. During the event, the Scholars practiced networking, received valuable career advice from young professionals, and collaboratively developed a list of recommended workshops that Mission Scholars would provide to support them during their critical first year of college.
This year’s Mission Scholars graduating class is heading to colleges and universities across the United States, including renowned institutions in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia.
“We are confident that, with the mentorship and support Mission Scholars offers our college students, they will not only survive their first year of college: they will thrive,” said Kinsella.
A program of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation, Mission Scholars uses comprehensive college admissions guidance, mentorship, and career development training to help exceptional low-income students reach their full potential and become a force for change in our communities. For more information about Mission Scholars, please visit www.missionscholars.org.
