We are The Phoenix Scholars .
The mission of The Phoenix Scholars is to make higher education more equitable by supporting students of underrepresented backgrounds in their pursuit of post-secondary education.
"Informational intervention substantially raises students' probability of applying to, being admitted at, enrolling at, and progressing at selective colleges.”
- Caroline Hoxby, Scott and Donya Bommer professor of Economics, Stanford University
As research points to lack of access to guidance support and accurate information concerning college being significant barriers in a student’s journey towards college, we currently support students through two main programs:
Mentorship ProgramThrough our Mentorship Program, we provide free college application counseling, support, and mentorship to our Scholars.
Scholars also have access to small scholarships and financial aid for their college application journeys. |
Outreach ProgramThrough our Outreach Program, TPS Core Team members visit high schools in the fall and winter to provide information about college, the application process, the Mentorship Program, and to give high school students access to college attendees for any other questions they may have.
|
|
"My Phoenix [Scholars] mentor...gave me the confidence and encouragement even when I felt like giving up on myself. I know I am here today in college because of my Phoenix mentor."
|
- Catherine Mitchell, Phoenix '12, Stanford '16
|
We are an organization of students who, at heart, want to support and serve.
Our priority is impact, and we recognize that education equity efforts demand a special focus on students of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented backgrounds.
Our approach at serving these students is guided by our values:
Our approach at serving these students is guided by our values:
Caring about each individual we serve
This is why our mission is to support students.
Our programming is structured around the student. That entails supporting their achievement of personal goals and empowering them with access to opportunities and choice.
This is also why we serve students indiscriminately of demonstrating past traditional merit, such as GPA and test scores. We understand that some individuals, especially students from the populations we serve, may demonstrate merit in less traditional ways due their particular circumstances.
Our programming is structured around the student. That entails supporting their achievement of personal goals and empowering them with access to opportunities and choice.
This is also why we serve students indiscriminately of demonstrating past traditional merit, such as GPA and test scores. We understand that some individuals, especially students from the populations we serve, may demonstrate merit in less traditional ways due their particular circumstances.
Fostering Community and the TPS Family
We understand that the college application process and attendance of college can come with many hardships. Therefore, we aim to also provide both a support system and a family for scholars and core team members.
This is why we organize Meet and Greets for scholars and their families to connect with the core team and mentors.
This also guides how the Core team operates. We regard every volunteer, scholar, and each other as part of a family, and we prioritize each other’s well-being and safety.
This is why we organize Meet and Greets for scholars and their families to connect with the core team and mentors.
This also guides how the Core team operates. We regard every volunteer, scholar, and each other as part of a family, and we prioritize each other’s well-being and safety.
Inspiring dedication to service
In both volunteers and scholars, we hope to propagate a legacy of service that perpetuates the impact of our work into addressing equity in all fronts. In aim of this, TPS tries to incorporate a love ethic.
Love ethic is a mentality that “presupposes everyone has the right to be free, to live fully and well” (Hooks, 2001)
We do so by ensuring open dialogues on health and capacity with our TPS family and empowering them to take hold of all aspects of their lives through alumni mentorship, resource dispersion, and workshops on life skills.
Love ethic is a mentality that “presupposes everyone has the right to be free, to live fully and well” (Hooks, 2001)
We do so by ensuring open dialogues on health and capacity with our TPS family and empowering them to take hold of all aspects of their lives through alumni mentorship, resource dispersion, and workshops on life skills.
Joab Camarena, Phoenix '12, Stanford '16
|
"I could not be more thankful for my mentor, Jesus Salas, who worked closely with me every step of the way."
|