EMERGE FELLOWSHIP
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : d*********t@e************s.o*g
Mission Statement
MISSION: EMERGE Fellowship develops high achieving students from underserved communities to be the next generation of leaders by preparing them to successfully apply, attend and graduate from the nation’s top colleges and universities. THE PROBLEM: Only 8% percent of high-achieving, low-income students are “achievement typical” in their application patterns, meaning they applied to institutions that closely matched their abilities. (Hoxby and Avery 2013) In 2015, only 4% of low- income/first-generation students who scored a 1200 or higher on the SAT applied to a selective college or university (College Board, 2015). Without an intervention, the majority high achievers end up in local community colleges or commuting to non-selective four-year institutions close to home.
About This Cause
HISTORY: EMERGE Fellowship was founded in 2010 at Cesar E. Chavez High School in Houston by Rick Cruz and a team of volunteers who believed that thousands of Houston’s smartest, most talented students would not “EMERGE” as the next generation of leaders due to lack of exposure to high quality higher education options, on top of a lack of knowledge and support around navigating the college application process. This team of volunteers had an unwavering belief that high-achieving students from underserved communities not only deserved the same opportunities as the students at private schools, but would be just as competitive in the application process and prepared to succeed at these colleges and universities if they chose to attend. In 2013, EMERGE Fellowship formed an official partnership with the Houston Independent School District to launch the first wide-scale effort from a major school district to radically increase the number of low-income students attending the nation’s top colleges. EMERGE is now available in every Houston ISD High School, the current number of students served 10-12th grade is 750. In 2015, EMERGE Fellowship began its partnership with a new district partner, Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD). We will serve 150 students in 10th- 12th grade in 2017-2018. The EMERGE approach revolves around the following components: Developmental Programming EMERGE program managers deliver our program biweekly in HISD and SBISD high schools to students, who we call “Fellows”, in grades 10-12. We introduce EMERGE Fellows to career exploration, including goal setting, action planning and personal branding. We then assist our Fellows with college research and selection, to help them find the right match for their abilities, interests, and personalities. We provide intensive test preparation to increase SAT scores by roughly 200 points. EMERGE Fellows also work on personal statement and supplement development to craft an outstanding application. Upon receiving their college acceptance letters, EMERGE Fellowship helps prepare Fellows for the transition to college by providing workshops on topics including understanding financial aid award packages, identifying personal values that can drive their college experiences, and navigating a college campus. Summer College Trips Across the Country: We also provide EMERGE Fellows with summer enrichment opportunities, including college visits and summer learning opportunities. Students, many of whom have never been on an airplane before, visit 5-6 universities between their sophomore and junior year and begin to imagine themselves as college students. These trips expose them to different college and university campuses and help them imagine what it would feel like to be a student at a selective college or university. We have found that doing the trip after the sophomore year provides an incentive for students to work hard, get involved and increase GPA/test scores to be the most competitive applicant in the process. Student & Family Support We are committed to eliminating every barrier that gets in the way of our students enrolling in a top-tier college. We encourage families to attend workshops and meet with us about the components of the college application process and financial aid package that remains elusive or unclear. We also provide programming to prepare families for the challenges and struggles their students will face as they transition. In addition, we continue to support our Scholars (students who have transitioned to college) after high school graduation. We partner with the colleges and universities where they attend, provide programming during the holiday breaks and summer vacation to address semester challenges, as well as connect them with resources and networks to ensure they are persisting year over year.