College Possible Catalyze

Congratulations from your friends at College Possible Catalyze! 🙌

With the new year in full swing, we wanted to look back and reflect on some of our most significant milestones of the past year. In 2023-2024, College Possible Catalyze: 🎓 served 5,758 college students at 12 college partners 🎓 registered 74% of our students for the Fall 2024 semester 🎓 had 509 students earn post-secondary degrees, 93% achieving bachelor’s degrees Additionally, our program: 📈 expanded to three new college partners: Palo Alto College, Northwest Vista College, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 🎉 celebrated five-year partnership anniversaries with three institutions: Austin Peay State University, California State University, Stanislaus, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology 💲 saw 24 of our AmeriCorps coach alumni get placed in full-time roles at universities, including 14 direct hires to the campuses where they served 💪 When students succeed, we succeed. Here's to continued growth in 2025!

College Possible Catalyze is proud to support the Future Ready Bexar County Plan through our partnership with Alamo Colleges District. Our AmeriCorps student success coaches provide 1:1 support and guidance to nearly 800 first-year AlamoPROMISE students at Northwest Vista College and Palo Alto College. Read more about ACD on page 18 of the report linked below. #highered #studentsuccess

We want to take a moment to celebrate the accomplishments of our winter graduates who recently received their post-secondary degrees from higher education institutions across the country! Highlighted here is Angelica, a Catalyze student who recently graduated with her bachelor's in psychology at California State University-San Bernardino's Palm Desert Campus. The future is bright, and we're so excited to see the amazing things these students will accomplish! #CongratulationsGrads 🎓🎉

Shoutout to Johnny who is pictured below welcoming students back to campus. Johnny is a wonderful and dedicated college success coach at St. Cloud State University serving in his second year with College Possible. We can't wait to see what the spring semester brings for both our students and our coaches. Go Huskies! 

Last week in honor of #CelebrateFirstGen day our wonderful AmeriCorps coaches hosted fun events nationwide to celebrate and uplift our first-generation college students. Here's a sneak peek into the fun-packed activities our coaches hosted! #FirstGenPride 🎓🎉 FirstGen Forward

Student Spotlight: Erica – Crafting a Future Through Words and Dance Meet Erica H., a first-gen student who’s gone from a shy high schooler to a published author, rewriting the narrative for students like her. With the support of College Possible, Erica has found her voice and is now inspiring others through her words and dance. Her story is a testament to the power of mentorship and community—through access to education and guidance, first-gen students can rewrite their futures. 🔗 Do you know someone who could benefit from resources like College Possible? Let’s amplify the work that’s changing lives. ✨ To every first-gen student: Your journey matters. You are not alone, and we’re with you every step of the way. Share your story or tag a first-gen student who inspires you! We’d love to hear from you! #FirstGen #FirstGeneration #CollegePossible #EducationMatters #BreakingBarriers #Inspiration #Mentorship #Leadership #StudentSuccess FirstGen Forward

As we continue to #CelebrateFirstGen, our team wants to take a moment to recognize the over 2,000 students we are serving this program year who self-identify as first-gen! The passion, persistence, and perseverance that our first-gen students show every day is what drives College Possible. Thank you to all our first-gen students, coaches and staff who make this work so meaningful! We are #FirstGenProud!

Meet Nayeli, a proud first-generation College Possible student who is studying at the University of California, Santa Cruz. When we asked Nayeli how her coach supports her in college she said, "Having a College Success Coach has greatly supported my academic journey. We often discuss my academic progress and ensure that I am making full use of the resources available. My coach has frequently helped to alleviate pressures I face, as our conversations consistently provide a sense of clarity and direction." Click through the images to see what advice Nayeli has for other first-gen students! #CelebrateFirstGen #FirstGenProud

As we continue on with our weeklong celebration, our next spotlight goes to Stunner, a first-gen AmeriCorps coach who is proudly serving students at Northwest Vista College in Texas. When asked how being a first-generation student shaped his career goals, Stunner said, "Being first-gen has helped me connect with the students I coach on a deep level as I understand the challenges they face. I’m committed to a fulfilling career in helping others, which is why I plan to stay in the nonprofit sector and eventually pursue an M.D. in Psychiatry. My own challenges have given me a wide range of resources I can share with students, and that’s something I find deeply rewarding." #FirstGenProud #CelebrateFirstGen