Letter from Executive Director

Dear Partners & Supporters of Increased College Access & Success in Northern California,

As we at College Summit enter our 10th Year (!) of service to high schools in several Bay Area communities, we continue to be inspired by the dedication and brilliance of students, educators and administrators in so many different high school settings and school systems.  Hints of their great body of work are found in these pages.

MetWest Sets a High Bar for Excellence
By Damien Basey, School Partnership Manager

In my professional experience working as a college access partner, some of the most critical questions schools face, particularly in public education include, “What do young people need in order to successfully transition into a relevant post-secondary plan after high school?” The leadership, faculty, and staff of MetWest High School in Oakland, CA seem to have a few answers for us that should leave little to no doubt in the minds of critics. And if it does, the numbers don’t lie.

Peer Leadership Runs in the Family
By Jasmine Abele, College Summit Northern California Intern

In late June, Tony Srimoukda of Media College Preparatory Academy attended the first of four College Summit Summer Workshops to be trained as a peer leader at the University of California, Berkeley. Tony was recruited into the organization by his older siblings, Johny and Emely Srimoukda who have both successfully completed the program as peer leaders, graduated from high school, and gone onto college. Johny is 19 years old, has just completed his first year at Chico State University, and Emely is 20 years old and entering her 3rd year at Chico State as well. She was the first to learn about the College Summit program.

Peer Leader in the Regional Office

Monica Buenrostro completed a College Summit workshop in the summer of 2008 as a peer leader at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2010 she returned to work as an Alumni Leader and again this summer as the Northern California Regional Intern. When asked what was your biggest challenge in working with College Summit, her response:  “I’ve been through a lot with College Summit, but the biggest challenge I’ve experienced was being convinced of every single good thing that College Summit staff has said about me. I think they see ‘success’ in me.”

College Summit Value Awards Given to Outstanding Peer Leaders and Educators

On April 27, 2011, College Summit Northern California celebrated the Annual Heart, Mind & Spirit Awards and Dinner at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Jack London Square, Oakland.  More than 170 students, educators, business partners, funders and staff attended the event to honor outstanding peer leaders and educators.

Nominate Peer Leaders from Your School Who Are Doing Great work!!

Click here to go fill out the nomination form today!

Do you know of a College Summit Peer Leader who has inspired, helped, supported, and/or pushed you or any students at your school (9th-12th grade) to think about or work on their plans for life after high school? Is there a College Summit Peer Leader who comes to mind when you think about all the great things happening at your school in increasing awareness around college applications, financial aid, personal statements, thinking about colleges to apply to etc.? Wouldn’t it be GREAT to help get them acknowledge by nominating them as our 2011 Peer Leader of the Year (as well as 3 other potential awards)?

East Oakland School of the Arts: Using Data to Influence College-Going Culture

Just two weeks after the California State University and University of California application deadline of November 30, 2010, the East Oakland School of the Arts (EOSA) team sat together for two hours to reflect on where each of their seniors were in their post-secondary planning. Did everyone who was eligible submit? If yes, what systems and support structures were in place that set up the young person for success? If not, why not? And what needs to happen next? Taking the time to reflect and be intentional “was incredibly helpful,” educator, Kateri Dodds Simpson noted.

Educators Know Best: Northern California Educators Best Practices Event

January 26, 2011- Nearly 20 partner educators gathered in Oakland to learn and teach about supporting students in the second semester, building strong Peer Leader cohorts and how to support AB540 students through the college admissions process, along with financial aid awareness and literacy for the diverse communities educators serve.

Volunteerism And Corporate Partners

College Summit Northern California is thankful for the corporate partnerships we have, which generate both cash contributions as well as in-kind support hosting events, facilitating informational sessions and volunteering at workshops.

Regional Overview-Letter From The Executive Director
As we begin another school year, we wish all of our high school partners a strong, productive and impactful year - even as we acknowledge how they continue to perform for their students under severely constrained funding environments. We at College Summit have the privilege to witness the work of very dedicated educators, counselors and administrators everyday, and we Californians need to continually advocate for increased school funding to support and expand the hard work of so many California educators who are investing so much of themselves in our students, and in our future.