This is our first issue of “Scholar Connection.” We will be sending you monthly emails (which can also be found here on the blog) offering words of advice from your peers, sharing tips, stories, opportunities, and reminders. We hope you will find it fun to read and helpful. If you would like to share your own story, a piece of advice, a resource, or make suggestions for us to include in the next newsletter, please let us know.
Scholar Voices: Coping with Remote Learning
Norma
Merritt College, Junior
I know it’s silly, but making your bed is key! Make sure your room is organized and clean, because the space should make you feel calm and motivated. Have a calendar out, so you can see which assignments are due. Find a new activity like painting or baking. Get outside and as much as you can. And exercise at least 30 minutes a day!
Rogelio
UC Santa Cruz, Senior
Do the things that you can’t normally do if you are at school. Spend time with your sister, walk your pets, eat dinner with your family. Once you go back to school, you can’t do those things.
Lisette
UC Santa Cruz, Junior
Don’t be afraid to email your professors and TA’s. They genuinely want to help you succeed and are willing to provide you with the support you need.
Naeem
San Francisco State University, Junior
Be disciplined and work hard, but be kind to yourself, don’t beat yourself up for mistakes, and make time for yourself.
Tutoring Resources and Homework Help
4 Tips for Getting Help with Homework
1. Go to online office hours with your professors and/or teaching assistants to ask questions about assignments and to let them know if you are struggling. If your professors get to know you and see that you are trying, they will be more willing to help. Click Here for a sample email to send to your professor. 2. Seek help from campus programs such as Educational Opportunity Programs and Student Learning Centers. They offer online tutoring sessions.
3. Contact your College Success Advisor (CSA), if you are not getting the help you need. They may be able to connect you with additional resources.
4. Email Your CSA to Sign Up for a BCS Tutoring Session. BCS is recruiting volunteer tutors to help students who are not getting enough help from their school resources. See below for short bios of our available tutors and the subjects they can tutor in.
Tutor Bios
Jared Boddumspecializes in language arts tutoring (including English literature, creative writing, social science reporting, and English Language Learner support). He has 5 years of experience teaching bilingual adults and is fluent in Spanish and French and conversationally proficient in Portuguese and Mandarin.
Trisha Connors practiced law for 23 years and has taught AP US Government and Politics for the past four years. She now teaches US history at Foothill High School in Pleasanton. She is available to help with writing, editing, and understanding political and historical events. Also, she can help advise and edit writing assignments in other classes, regardless of the discipline.
Email your College Success Advisor to get connected!
Scholar Career/Professional Development Survey
BCS is planning to offer some professional development for scholars. We want to hear from you and learn what kinds of career help/assistance would be most helpful to you. Would you complete this 5-minute survey to help us design programs that meet your needs and interests?
The 2021-2022 FAFSA and Dream Act applications are open! Don’t forget to renew your financial aid every year. Financial aid is issued on a first come first serve basis. The earlier you submit your application, the better. The FAFSA deadline to receive the Cal Grant is March 2, 2021, so make sure you get your application in today!
Renew FAFSAHERE Make sure to have your FSA ID numbers and your 2019 tax forms handy!
It has never been more important to exercise your right to vote! Student voices are so important and will help shape economic, social, and foreign policies that will impact your future. If you haven’t registered to vote yet, don’t worry! You have until October 19th to register. You can mail in your ballot, drop it off at a local polling place, or vote in-person. Just make sure you vote!
Here are some links to help you find out information about voting, the candidates and measures on the ballot:
Voter registration deadline: October 19, 2020.
Check your voter registration status, register, request an absentee ballot, and more: www.vote.org
College is challenging under normal circumstances, but this year took adversity to new levels. We are so proud of you for sticking with it and for all of your accomplishments both big and small. It’s the start of a new year, a new term, and a new beginning. Any stumbles are behind you and will become part of your success story.
In this email, we will share stories and advice from your peers to remind you that you are part of a larger community of scholars who want to help you achieve your goals. We also share scholarship opportunities, a very helpful scholarship search engine, and important reminders. Please read the email in its entirety.
We wish you all the best for 2021.
If you have advice, photos of you and your mentor, or stories to share with your fellow scholars and the BCS community, please email your college success advisor.
Linda Osuorji Lynn Walker Bachelors Degree High Hopes Team
Scholar Advice
This month, we are highlighting the stories and helpful advice from three of BCS scholars on time management, overcoming grief, and preparing for transfer. Read their stories in full on our blog!
Managing Deadlines in 5 Steps!
Aamna A.
2017 CCHH, 2019 HH Transfer Scholar
Aamna is a junior at UC Davis majoring in Global Disease Biology. Through trial and error, she developed her own system to track her many deadlines so nothing slips through the cracks. Learn her strategy and see a sample of her tracking system.
I was having trouble figuring out a good way to organize my assignments, tests, and quizzes. I tried everything; using a planner, bullet journal, online calendar, digital planner, apps, but I still felt overwhelmed.
Finally, I found a way to keep all of my assignments in one place for every class. It is simpler than you’d think. All you need is Google Sheets! I am obsessed with having all my assignments in one place so I can get things done much earlier and check off when I finish assignments. See my sample spreadsheet and follow these steps to create your own:
Create the following headings on the top of your spreadsheet: “Due date,” “Class,” “Assignment type,” “Assignment details,” & “Complete”) & color coordinate (e.g. blue for homework, purple for reading and watching videos, and orange for papers and projects, etc.)
Fill out the table with all of your due dates, assignments, etc.
Select/Highlight the whole table (including the top row)>Double click on “sort range”>Check “Data has header row”>Sort by>”Due Date”
Note: Do not write the days of the week yet on your spreadsheet. Write the due dates (e.g 01/01/21). You can add the days after the table is sorted by the date, or even add a separate column for the days so you don’t have to do extra work.
To create checkboxes, highlight the column under the “Complete” heading then, at the top of the sheet, click on “Insert” and click on the “checkbox” option
Bookmark the tab so you have easy access!
Applying to Transfer with a Little Help
Christian W.
2017 CCHH
Christian is a Political Science major transferring to a Bachelor’s Degree institution in the Fall of 2021. He has been accepted to UC Riverside. Christian writes about his experience applying to UCs and CSUs while juggling work and school.
Fall semester of 2020 was a challenging semester for me due to having to balance my classes with remote learning, while working and also applying as a transfer student for the UC and CSU system.
Applying to UC/CSU as Transfer Student
When applying for the CSU/UC apps, I received assistance from my College Success Advisor. She helped me write my personal insight questions. This was the most difficult and challenging part of the UC application but we scheduled meetings every week to try and make progress on them step by step. This lifted a lot of stress from me. Without their assistance, I wouldn’t have been able to succeed.
Remote Learning
Due to COVID-19, we were forced to engage in remote learning. For me, it was a bit of a challenge as I was a bit uncomfortable getting on zoom to show my face. What I often did to overcome my shyness and other challenges online was to create a new mindset. I customized my room, so I could feel more comfortable doing my online classes. This meant cleaning my room to move things out of the way so everything would be more efficient. I also prioritized my classes using a time management system. This allowed me to become more organized in completing my schoolwork and helped me feel less overwhelmed.
Christian’s Tips
My overall tips for community college students who are looking to get ready to transfer would be…
Meet with a counselor at least once a month and establish a great relationship. This will help you to feel comfortable meeting with them and hearing what classes they would recommend for your ED plan etc.
For remote learning, I would recommend becoming more organized. Invest in a planner and write down all of your priorities day by day. This will enhance your time management skills.
And last but not least,
For motivation, be sure to take breaks when needed. Check-in with yourself when feeling overwhelmed, and create short term goals to keep your mindset going.
Finding Motivation When Coping with Loss
Alejandro G.
2017 BDHH Scholar
Alejandro is a Business Administration major transferring in the Fall of 2021. He was accepted into Sacramento State. Alejandro and his family faced tremendous grief and loss this year. He shares his moving story and how he got through it.
The Pandemic and Coping with Loss
This past year has been extremely difficult for me, as I’m sure it has been for many of you. We began the year like any other, but the pandemic struck and things took a turn for the worse. It’s helpful to understand that there are certain things beyond our control and rather than focusing on negative aspects, try shifting your attention towards the things you CAN control and create the positive outcome you desire.
My semester started off great. Two classes met regularly and three classes were asynchronous, which allowed me to move my schedule around and squeeze in a part-time job to stay afloat financially and simultaneously, learn at my own pace. I allocated my mornings to class meetings, studying and completing homework while dedicating my evenings to work shifts.
Then in September, I found out one of my cousins in Mexico, just a couple years older than me, had become infected with COVID. The thought of losing the most energetic and outgoing family member at such a young age terrified me and my family. Fortunately, she responded to treatment and recovered within a few weeks. My family and I became even more cautious after the pandemic hit so close to home.
Days later, two of my mother’s sisters, also in Mexico, became infected with the virus. My mother’s youngest sister had underlying health issues and passed away within days of being hospitalized. Unable to be with my family during that time made me feel helpless. Within a few days, we received news that my uncle had been hospitalized due to health complications. The strict COVID guidelines prevented us from visiting. His health deteriorated considerably, and he also passed away. The loss of two loved ones within a month caused my family a great degree of suffering and stress, and the inability to have a proper farewell made it that much harder to process.
Grief and Lost Motivation
I tried to move on, to be strong for my parents, and to support them as I knew best, by hiding my true emotions. I continued to attend work and lectures while completing coursework. Eventually I realized I couldn’t run from reality. Grieving, I found myself unable to cope with their losses and get the closure I needed to move on.
I grew miserable at work, and I slowly stopped participating in classes. At times, I slept through lectures and put off assignments. I started calling off from work with greater frequency. My grades reflected my lack of motivation, as I started to fail all my classes. I lost sense of my priorities and no longer strived to reach my academic goals.
As midterms approached, I was unprepared. I knew I would need to catch up on schoolwork, if I didn’t want to fail my classes. I tried to catch up, but it seemed impossible. My stress grew. On top of it all, I had not begun my transfer applications. I tried waking up earlier which was a challenge for me but gave me time to study for midterms while also catching up on assignments. I performed decently on midterms but I was still far too behind, and I was growing hopeless.
Accepting Support and Asking for Help
As the month of November was wrapping up with the holidays around the corner, I received a life-saving phone call from my college success advisor. She reached out to check on me and to share an internship opportunity. Already having a strong sense of trust in her, I couldn’t help but share all I had been going through. As understanding and compassionate as she is, she gave me words of encouragement and quickly started offering solutions. We designed a plan on the next steps I would take and she gave me the motivation I needed to move on. I took on the internship opportunity as a blessing that I could take advantage of, in order to commemorate my loved ones and make them proud. I had something to look forward to and decided to make peace with myself and keep pushing past the obstacles.
As part of the plan, I wrote an email describing my circumstances to professors in an attempt to get an extension on assignments or even possibly exploring the option of an incomplete. I’m not going to lie, I was very hesitant and quite doubtful of the efforts, yet my advisor convinced me it was worth taking a shot. To my surprise, all my professors were extremely understanding and granted me some type of extension, some more generous than others. In disbelief, I knew I had my work cut out for me as I had to work on transfer applications, complete extended assignments, study for finals and prepare for the interview process of the internship. I got straight to work. I kid you not, I had busted my a** until the very last day of the semester and thought it was never going to end. I had sacrificed various hours of precious sleep but it was all worth it. I managed to pick up my failing grades and passed all my classes with 3 B’s and a C, and I got accepted to Sacramento State!
My Advice
No matter how hard you fall, never give up and get back up because it’s possible and it’s worth it
Write down a list of goals, both short-term and long-term to be a constant reminder of what you’re working towards
Design a plan/roadmap for a specific goal to help envision it come to fruition (the more descriptive, the better)
Don’t suppress your feelings, rather acknowledge and validate them by accepting them for what they are
Take care of your mental health, whether it be through self-care or opening up to a friend, family member, co-worker, counselor or anyone you trust; it really helps to get things off your chest rather than carry all that baggage on your shoulders
Manage your time wisely; use a planner or calendar to write down dates and envision time
If you don’t seem to have time, make some time! (If there’s time for your phone there’s time for school)
Despite remote learning, engage with professors and peers; attend office hours and create study groups (it will only be more beneficial to you when it comes to studying material for a test)
If you’re experiencing hardship in your personal life or have an emergency, reach out to your professors as they are far more understanding than we think, it’s always worth a shot and the worst that can happen is they say no/don’t accept
If you need academic support, don’t be afraid to reach out to BCS/CSA as they are a vital resource and are here to help you
When studying for long periods of time, take breaks or pauses, whether it be to eat/make a snack, go to the bathroom, take a breather/taking dog for a walk etc
If you struggle with writing, practice word vomit: write down ideas or whatever comes to mind no matter how raw it is as it will help you get started, afterwards you can go in and fix it
Please practice social distancing and COVID guidelines/health orders, use a face mask and carry with hand sanitizer for extra protection
Best, Alejandro
Don’t Miss Out on Your Next Scholarship Check!
Final Reminder! The Deadline for the Fall Update is Feb.1 at 8:59 PM
Click on 2020 Fall High Hopes Update and complete your update (You may see other applications, make sure you click on this one)
If you have met the criteria (Completed update, 2.0 GPA, earned minimum 12 units), checks will be mailed to the address specified on your update.
If you did not meet the criteria, you are required to schedule a meeting with your BCS Advisor by January 31, 2021. Please send an email to your CSA (lynn@berkeleyscholars.org, linda@berkeleyscholars.org, fatima@berkeleyscholars.org, terrance@berkeleyscholars.org) to arrange a meeting.
***No checks will be cut for updates submitted after that deadline, so please make sure to complete your update early.***
Scholarship Opportunities
As an undergraduate student, you can still apply for outside scholarships that can help reduce your educational costs and your overall college debt. Small amounts add up! There are so many kinds of scholarships! Scholarships are often targeted to students in certain majors, from certain ethnic or cultural backgrounds, or with specific hobbies and interests. Here are some tips for a scholarship search:
Start with your financial aid office and your academic department to see what kinds of additional scholarships you may qualify for
If you/your family belong to a church or community organization, explore whether they offer scholarships
Many scholarships have a GPA requirement of 3.0+
Search UC Berkeley’s Scholarship Connection, an awesome scholarship search site, where you can sort scholarships by year in school, major, citizenship status, etc.
Check out BCS’ Google Spreadsheet of scholarship opportunities. We will continue to update. Please feel free to add scholarship opportunities to the sheet.
Important Reminders
If you have a financial crisis, you can apply for the BCS Emergency Fund. Contact your College Success Advisor (CSA) for help completing the application or if you have any questions.
Students who have exhausted their funding and wish to apply for a grant to complete an additional term/year of college can apply for the Finish Line Fund. Please contact your CSA for details.
Click HERE for a running list of internship opportunities. Please keep checking back for updates and let us know if you need help with an application.
Don’t forget to renew your FAFSA or Dream Act applications to receive financial aid for 2021-2022. The application deadline (in order to be considered for a Cal Grant) is March 2nd.
Berkeley Community Scholars bridges the opportunity divide for Berkeley youth living in the lowest income bracket by providing scholarships, college success advising, and community mentors. Our program allows our scholars to obtain a bachelor’s degree, social capital, and limited financial debt. We are currently recruiting mentors for our 2021 scholarship recipients.
Why Mentor?
Mentors are valuable resources to our scholars. They inspire and facilitate academic, career, and personal achievements. 80% of our scholars are the first generation attending college and desiring a professional career. Our mentors provide the roadmap and social capital for our students to visualize and plan for meeting their goals.
Mentor Requirements
We ask our mentors to commit to at least 2 years as a mentor. Additional years of support will be encouraged based on mentor/mentee desire and impact.
We expect that each mentor will:
Be a college graduate or equivalent professional in their field of work
Have a minimum of 2 face-to-face meetings*
Connect with your Scholar at least once a month during the school year (via email, phone call, Skype, etc)
Attend Match Meeting with Scholar and College Success Advisor
We also encourage our mentors to:
Attend Scholarship Award Ceremony (June), Summer Orientation (June),
Scholar/Mentor Mixer (May), Care Package Party (Nov.), and Mentor
Appreciation Brunch (Jan.)
Group outings planned by scholars and BCS staff
*Any face-to-face or in-person events will be remote until public health protocols permit otherwise.
Spring break marks the year anniversary since colleges started pivoting their campuses to remote learning. Many of you had to pack up and leave your dorms/off-campus housing as well as your friends with little notice. Many in the BCS community lost jobs, experienced illness, and lost loved ones. Some of you withdrew from classes and struggled with motivation, isolation, and depression. We cannot imagine all the challenges that college students are facing at this time. While we at BCS love celebrating your achievements, we are also here to support you through challenging times and know that this year has increased your needs. Here are three ways that BCS might be able to help:
We can listen and empathize. Sometimes just talking about concerns and problems can bring relief and allow you to see solutions.
We can refer you to resources either at your school or in the community that could help you address financial issues, academic issues, or social/emotional ones.
We can connect you to people in your field, alumni or undergraduates with similar concerns, goals, or careers to help you figure things out.
We can review your application for an Emergency Fund and provide financial relief when possible beyond your scholarship award. Please see below for details on how to do so.
Please reach out to your CSA to see how we can help!
Claremont McKennaCollege Economics and Media Studies Major
It is inarguable that this past school year has been anything but draining. With each zoom meeting, extraordinarily long assignments, and online exams, I have felt each ounce of motivation drained from my body. My responsibilities that come with dual majoring in Econ and Media Studies, having a job, and attending personal/family matters result in a balancing act that most students are all too familiar with. Like every other student, I am tired. So, this article will not be a piece on how I found the inspiration to persevere. Instead, I will discuss how I allowed my Berkeley Community Scholars community to carry some of my responsibilities. Could I have handled everything independently? Maybe – but at the heavy cost of exacerbating my sleep deprivation and stress levels.
As internship season arrives, exhausted students like myself are forced yet again to add another thing to their planners: Find and Apply to Internships. No matter if this is the first or third year of college, this process is always one that students dread for a number of reasons. Of course, there are the hours of research, resume and cover letter development, and the awkward task of choosing which professor (whose office hours you never went to) is best to write a letter of recommendation. The most dreadful part of this entire process, however, is simply having to add another task on top of school and personal work. I remember feeling my stomach turn as I penned “find internship” into my planner back in December.
It was precisely around this time that I received a text message from my mentor reminding me that she was ready to begin introducing me to some of her colleagues so I could begin to make important internship connections. Through the people I connected with, I refined my career interest in public relations and received tips on how to improve my resume to impress prospective employers. Without my mentor, I would not have had any idea as to what direction or steps I needed to take to start exploring my career options. This text reinforced the significance of community – more specifically my BCS community. In a time where I was growing anxious and feeling, even more, overwhelmed, my mentor’s message reminded me to ask for help. I am so accustomed to handling everything independently that I often neglect to reach out and let other people help and guide me. This is applicable to anyone in any age demographic. Whether you’re a student, graduate, parent, etc… reminding yourself to lean on your community protects yourself and your mental health.
At this point, I have not found a formal internship and neither have most of my peers. Under normal circumstances, this might have alarmed me, but being at home for the last year has made me less focused on a job and more on making up lost time with loved ones. With vaccine distribution picking up pace, the air getting warmer, and days getting longer, spending more time behind my computer is not at the top of my list. Of course, the dedicated student in me can not allow myself to do nothing this summer. So, while I am continuing to submit applications, I also had the idea to create my own “informal” internship. I figured with some guidance, I could piece together different activities that could allow me to explore public relations, develop my writing skills, and have fun spending time with others. Using the support of my BCS community, I asked Lynn to help me connect with someone to help me formulate my “internship”. Through this, I created a plan to interweave my career interest in public relations with my personal interest in art and fashion. In lieu of a formal internship, I could spend my time going to art exhibits/shows with friends creating my own mock press releases to develop my writing skills, start a blog with a friend, and form relationships with local art directors. While this may not be a professional experience, I get to develop my writing portfolio with real, local experience and enjoy some time away from zoom meetings and my computer.
This remote academic experience has been challenging in more ways than one. I lost the force and drive that once gave me the motivation to do my assignments with an energetic and positive mindset. Working with my community has been the only thing that has helped me to persevere through this semester. Finding ways to let people alleviate some of my pressures aided in my health immensely. I have time to breathe, rest, and care for myself which has made all the difference in my attitude this semester.
Bouchra B.
2018 CCHH Scholar
Samuel Merritt University Nursing Major
Regarding your school-work/work/life balance, how are you able to manage your time successfully? Any tips you would like to share with our scholar community regarding time management?
I am able to manage my time successfully by starting off to set one day out of the week where it will be my complete rest day from school. This means no computer, no assignments, nothing- just so that my mind gets to relax off the one thing it is always thinking about in which case school. For me I set my Wednesdays asides. Next up I have the days where I plan when I am going to do my homework. The best time to do this is actually when you are signing up for classes to take a look at trying to fit all your classes close enough to each other so that you have more free days to study and do that homework. This has helped me in fitting in time for work. In the beginning of the week I have my set lectures then I have a break, after I have my shirt labs, then I have work. It is this simple flow to follow but if you miss a day then it feels like it is going by fast. The best tip regarding successfully establishing time management is planning your schedule ahead of this and this typically is when you are registering for classes.
What do you do for self-care during these times? What advice would you like to provide for our scholar community?
Self-care during these times is going out with a friend who always has good positive vibes to do activities such as walks, hikes, adventures, zip line, escape rooms, road trips just for coffee, you name it! Being able to go out and smell the air is something we all need and can bring us simple joy. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or money at all to do self-care. Things I do for self-care are eating new foods once a week. I love to eat and being able to eat food outside instantly makes me happy and that’s honestly all the self-care I need! That and feeling good which means showering, doing your hair, nails, anything that makes you feel more put together and ready to go!
How do you find motivation through completing coursework/attending online classes?
I find motivation by talking to friends. School will never be easy and you will always start to doubt yourself and ask if you really need to continue schooling but I can tell you that is just a phase. I have felt this way many times through my journey where I didn’t want to complete any assignments and mentally could not finish an easy assignment because my body shut down. The way I got out of it was speaking to a person who is going through school as well. I ranted, had breakdowns in my car at the same time eating a mcChicken at 3pm, let everything I needed out with just a person to listen. Sometimes that’s all we need and I realized as I ranted, I instantly thought that everything is going to be okay and that is just the way life is. Accepting it and moving on because there really is nothing you can do about a particular situation (pandemic in this instant) . It all about being understanding and accepting
During a particularlychallenging time, or class assignments, or a challenging day/week, etc, what supports you when overcoming personal/academic challenges?Who/what do you consider to be your community of support during these times?
I like to go on walks and get my mind off of that challenging assignment as well as just staying in and doing nothing. If I have a challenging day then I tend to Literally do nothing by staying in- not being on my phone, not watching tv, just nothing. If anything I may start cleaning or organizing because that Prepares me for stepping back into my zone to continue to push through but typically I either need to get fresh air, listen to music as loud as I can tolerate, or stay in and do nothing!
Elevate Virtual Career Fair
College career centers often host virtual job fairs to expose students to companies that hire for summer internships or jobs post-college. Fairs are a great way to learn about companies, careers, and to introduce yourself to hiring managers.
Click here for 10 Tips to Prepare for a Virtual Career Fair and, if you are interested in jobs in education, come practice your skills at an upcoming Elevate Virtual Job Fair. Elevate Teaching is an organization that recruits, develops, and retains teachers of color for high need schools in California. They will be hosting a career fair to share about opportunities to teach/tutor/work in some of the most innovative and impactful schools serving low-income students in the Bay Area.” Below you can register for the career fair.
1. The First Generation Civil Rights Fellowship Program(FirstGEN) Paid summer program for undergraduate students who are the first in their immediate families to attend college and who intend to pursue careers in social justice. APPLY HERE Applications Due: April 9
2. NPH Bay Area Housing Internship One-year paid internship program designed to recruit and train students of color at Bay Area colleges and universities to become housing development/project management, professionals. APPLY HERE Applications due April 16. Info Session on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, @ 1:30 PM with NPH’s Program Manager, Monica Joe, to learn more about the application process. REGISTER HERE
3. Policy Internship (New American Economy) May-August remote paid internship to assist tracking and researching immigration and economy-related policies and legislation. Send Resume and cover letter HERE.
Click HERE for a running list of internship opportunities. Please keep checking back for updates and let us know if you need help with completing an application and/or updating your resume
Tutoring Help Available
Need writing help? BCS is working with two amazing tutors who can help with understanding assignments, reviewing drafts, editing, etc.
Jared B. specializes in language arts tutoring (including English literature, creative writing, social science reporting, and English Language Learner support). He has 5 years of experience teaching bilingual adults and is fluent in Spanish and French and conversationally proficient in Portuguese and Mandarin.
Trisha C. practiced law for 23 years and has taught AP US Government and Politics for the past four years. She now teaches US history at Foothill High School. She is available to help with subjects pertaining to political and historical events. She also can help to advise and edit writing assignments regardless of the subject.
To set up tutoring times with either volunteer, please contact your CSA.
Important Reminders
Students on the quarter system: Please send your winter transcript and your spring schedule to your CSA, so we can send out your next scholarship check.
BCS Emergency Fund: If you have a financial crisis, you can apply for the emergency fund. Contact your College Success Advisor (CSA) for help completing the application or if you have any questions.
Finish Line Fund: Students who have exhausted their funding and plan to apply for a grant to complete an additional term/year of college can apply for the Finish Line Fund. Applications are due by April 16th. Please contact your CSA for details.
I truly hope this finds you in a moment where you can breathe deeply and have a glimpse of hope and safety.
As I sit and wonder about the future, both tomorrow, next year, and the next decade, I am filled with so many mixed emotions. I want to have hope. I want to believe. I want to have certainty for your future and mine. I am not there yet. And I won’t stop trying to get to a place where I believe that those thoughts and feelings and REALITIES can happen for you.
A few of our national leaders shared their thoughts and this is what struck a chord with me:
Joe Biden said, “we cannot let them (George Floyd’s words) die with him … we need to keep hearing them – not turn away from them”
Kamala Harris said, “we are one step closer to making equal justice under the law a reality. It will not heal the pain that has existed for generations or for the family. We must commit to fight for equal justice”.
The Obamas said, a” jury did the right thing, true justice requires much more. True justice is about much more than a single verdict in a single trial”.
Oprah said, “I was relieved in ways I didn’t expect – grateful for the witnesses and their testimonies”.
And someone much closer to your station in life – Amanda Gorman said, “a reminder that victory would be if George Floyd was alive.”
I am sure we all have some of these feelings and so many more in between. I hope you can take a moment to feel, dream, to hope and decide what makes sense for you to be the difference you want to see in the world. We are here to listen, support and share for and with you in this ongoing fight.
Still in deep thought and with the desire to be better, Sherry Smith Executive Director
Scholarly Advice
Do you have a skill, hobby, or idea that you would like to leverage into a business? BCS Scholars Alexandra Puga and Abril Fonseca did just that. They have some advice to share on how to get started.
Alexandra Puga | Alexa’s Delights
In August of 2020, I started a bakery business where I sell Peruvian delights, traditional Peruvian alfajores – dulce de leche filled cookies topped with powdered sugar – and many other sweets with a Peruvian twist!
My family and I own a Peruvian and Italian restaurant in El Sobrante called El Chalan Restaurant. Ever since I was little, I have been helping my parents in every way that I can. My fathers Peruvian food has always felt like comfort, as it has allowed me to connect to my identity as a Peruvian. Having grown up around such talent and delicious food, I always had aspirations of accomplishing more for my family. Starting Alexa’s Delights was my way of being able to create freely, and to show my parents that the possibilities are endless for us.
My first experience selling alfajores was during my junior year at Berkeley High School. With the help of my father (who makes them) and my lovely friends, I would sell mostly to my peers. It was never in huge quantities; people would order 1-3 alfajores. However, his exposure allowed me to realize the things I was doing wrong, like underselling my product. And things that I was doing right.
Having had experience during high school, I felt confident about starting my business in August. I had already gained support from the Berkeley High School (BHS) community. I operate mostly on social media, and, when I started out, my clients were mainly from BHS. Before launching, I had to complete many things, such as a logo design, photos of my product, and setting prices. There was a lot of preliminary work involved, before launching my business. When I was ready, I announced the start of my business on my main Instagram account in order to gain supporters.
Tips or Advice for Students Thinking About Starting a Business
Like anyone who is thinking of starting a business, I was afraid of peoples’ judgments or of not being successful. My advice, if you are interested in becoming an entrepreneur:
Do something that brings you joy! As long as you are passionate about what you are doing, success will follow.
Reach out to people who may be able to help you in the industry. Don’t think that you are alone! There is always someone who is willing to help and advise you on what to do.
As long as you have a passion to create something, go for it! What do you have to lose?
If you want to place an order or see what I’m up to, you can follow me on Alexasdelightss
Abril Fonesca | Abri(e)l’s Delicias
Hello everyone, my name is Abril Fonseca. I founded and run a small, Latina-owned and operated business – ABRI(E)L’S DELICIAS, with an emphasis on the ‘E’ because one of my favorite cheeses is Brie. Many of my family and friends know that I have a love and passion for cheese. I could literally just eat cheese by itself, and I would feel content. That joy of eating cheese led me to create small cheese boards for family and friends, whenever I would go on picnics or even at home watching a movie. It was something I did for fun. Not only did I enjoy making and eating cheeses, but it also brought me a sense of happiness when I would see that a board of cheese could bring people together to bond and enjoy the small things in life. Like my mother says, “Vida hay una y hay que disfrutarla.” (There’s only one life so one must enjoy it). This led me to continue enjoying and embracing the small things in life like these charcuterie boards/boxes. I clearly remember my best friend Alexandra Puga (small-business owner – Alexas Delights) telling me I should start up my own small business of charcuterie boards/boxes. She would always tell me how successful it would be, but I was always too nervous. I also didn’t really want to start a business, because I just enjoyed making them for fun. But with plenty of love, support, and motivation from family and friends, I built up the courage to open up my small business.
The purpose behind my business is to spread love and joy through charcuterie. It is for family and friends to be able to take the time to enjoy each other’s company while eating a variety of sweet and sour items that are intentionally placed into the charcuterie boxes that I offer. Although I have barely commenced my journey as a small business owner, it has taught me plenty of things, and it has allowed me to meet astounding people who I now see as mentors. Additionally, even though I don’t see myself doing this as a career, I can envision myself doing this on the side and continuously spreading love and joy through the small things in life.
My tip for anyone who would like to start their small business is – to go for it, often we are our own biggest enemies. We tend to limit our own potential. In order not to do that, let go of all those fears and doubts. Don’t worry if it doesn’t work out or it doesn’t go the way you planned, the important thing is that you went for it and you must always reflect and ask yourself “what do I need to learn/take away from this experience?” Everything in life is a learning experience so just go for it, be your biggest supporter. Remember that there is only one life, so you must enjoy it to the fullest by doing the things that will make you happy.
If you want to check out my business, you can follow me on ABRI(E)’s Delicias
Opportunities
Wonder what it takes to run for public office?
This Friday, come meet local councilmembers, community leaders, and assemblymembers of color as they share their experience and advice on civic engagement and running for office. Learn how they decided to get involved in local government. Sign up here to reserve a spot and get the zoom link: tinyurl.com/cctoelectedoffice They really want you to join them!
Internships and Job Opportunities
1. Joy Street Design, Oakland Seeking a Social Media Intern. Submit a creative one-page explanation of why you are the ideal candidate. Paid hourly. MORE INFO
2. Monument Impact – Marketing and Outreach Intern Social justice nonprofit offering a six-month, part-time, paid internship. Looking for an undergrad who is social media, data-savvy and bilingual in English and Spanish. Temporarily remote. APPLY HERE
3. Oakland Rising – Healthy Futures Canvasser (temporary, part-time position) May-June position canvassing the Flatlands to provide education around vaccination. Application deadline is April 26. $21 per hour. APPLY HERE
4. Color by Design Fellowship – Info Session May 5th RepresentEd in partnership with IDEO designed this 9-month fellowship to provide professional development skills, mentorship, and on-the-job training to pursue a career in design. Applications open May 3rd. Sign up for the Info Session HERE.
Click HERE for a running list of internship opportunities. Please keep checking back for updates and let us know if you need help with completing an application and/or updating your resume
Advice for Graduating Seniors
7 TIPS for Graduates Entering the Workforce During COVID We know this is a challenging time to be graduating and conducting a job search. If you need help thinking through options, making connections or you just need some encouragement, BCS has your back. Reach out to your college success advisor to develop a plan.
Here are 7 great tips to consider when starting your post-college job search.
Important Reminders
BCS Emergency Fund: If you have a financial crisis, you can apply for the emergency fund. Contact your College Success Advisor (CSA) for help completing the application or if you have any questions.
Finish Line Fund: Students who have exhausted their funding and plan to apply for a grant to complete an additional term/year of college can apply for the Finish Line Fund. Applications are due by May 28th. Please contact your CSA for details.
Happy July! A huge congratulations to all of this year’s graduating scholars, and happy summer break to everyone else! There is lots of important information in this month’s newsletter, so be sure to read to the end.
Here is what is in this issue:
Summer Awards Celebration Save the Date
Scholarly Advice
5 Tips for Getting Started with LinkedIn
Spring Update and Your Scholarship Check
Tips for Getting to Know Your Mentor
Virtual Summer Celebration – July 23, 2021
We are excited to welcome our incoming 2021 High Hopes Scholars and to celebrate our college graduates! This year we accepted 31 Bachelor’s Degree High Hopes Scholars—10 of whom are transfer students from Berkeley City College—and 15 Community College High Hopes Scholars. We are also celebrating 22 new college graduates!! We are so proud of them!
We are going to celebrate these students and their accomplishments and welcome them to the BCS community with a virtual ceremony. We will be hosting a Virtual Awards Celebration on Friday, July 23—details will be coming soon! Please add to your calendar!
Scholarly Advice
Yilin X. | UC San Diego
Prioritize your health over everything else. Take a deep breath and go for a walk outside.
Nya S. | Barnard College
One of the most rewarding aspects of college was creating incredible friendships that I feel will last a lifetime. I found that during some of my lowest points in college, when my family was far away from me, I could count on my friends to uplift me and show me so much love and support. All this is to say: invest in your relationships. The people you keep around are so important throughout your life, especially during the formative years of college. Invest in genuine relationships with people who truly love you and want to see you succeed. If a relationship is no longer serving you, do not be afraid to walk away from it. Life is too short to be spending it with people who are not adding healthiness and happiness to your life.
Jessaly S. A. | San Francisco State University
Study hard, but enjoy the time in college, because it goes really fast. Also, you don’t have to know everything at the beginning of college, because little by little you will gain knowledge and experience and create your own pathway.
Rebeca T. A. | UC Santa Cruz
Don’t put too much pressure on being perfect. Being a first-generation and, in my case, an undocumented college student, I learned that the educational system isn’t designed for us. So you have to reach out, go to tutoring hours, reach out to friends, seek resources, talk to alumni, talk to professors, join sororities or clubs to find a home away from home. Most importantly, find people who come from the same background as you– who have the same legal status (if you are undocumented) so you can share resources with one another.
You need to be fearless!
5 Tips for Getting Started with LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a useful tool for networking and finding new career opportunities. But how do you get started? Here are 5 tips for creating your profile (you can find the full checklist here). Once you create your profile, make sure to join the Berkeley Community Scholars Group on LinkedIn and connect with other BCS scholars and alumni.
1. Use a professional photo. It doesn’t have to be fancy – just use your cellphone camera in front of a plain background. Wear a nice shirt and don’t forget to smile!
2. Your summary is your “About Me”. Describe what motivates you, what you’re skilled at, and what you hope to do in the future.
3. Work experience isn’t the only experience. Highlight any volunteer work, internships, or clubs you’ve participated in. This helps you showcase your interests and skills even if you have a limited work history.
4. Include your skills and abilities. Add at least 5 key skills – and then your connections can endorse you for the things you’re best at.
5. Showcase projects you’ve worked on. Whether you led a team assignment in school or organized a campus event, talk about what you did and how you did it.
Also…
Be sure to check out this career panel the BCS Alumni Council recently hosted. Hear from former High Hopes Scholars on their transition from college to the workplace and their career trajectories so far.
The 2021 Spring Update is now posted! We look forward to reading about your spring terms and seeing how we can best support you for the upcoming Fall term.
In addition to responding to the Update questions, you will also need to upload the following:
Your complete unofficial transcript (it should include the full history of all your classes and grades)
Your 2021-2022 financial award letter from your school
A photo of your educational plan (classes you plan to take each term) for your remaining time in school
Your signed Program Agreement
Once we have your completed Update, we will review it and make sure you have met the following requirements before disbursing your Fall check:
Cumulative GPA of 2.00
Full-time enrollment
If you have met the criteria, checks will be disbursed the week after the deadline dates. If you did not meet the requirements, you are required to schedule a meeting with your CSA ASAP before you can receive your next check. Please contact Lynn at lynn@berkeleyscholars.org to schedule a phone/video meeting. If Linda Osuorji is your CSA, she is on leave until early August, so please reach out to Lynn to schedule a meeting.
To submit your Spring Update, follow these instructions:
2. Click on High Hopes Program – Spring 2021 Update and complete your update
Spring Update Submission Dates: Monday, July 12th Monday, August 16th (Final opportunity to submit your update and receive your scholarship check)
Each deadline ends at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time), 8:59 PM (Pacific Time or “our time”) on the submission date. Checks will be disbursed the following week. **No checks will be cut after the August 16th deadline, so please make sure to complete your update early.***
Make the Most of Summer with Your Mentor
Now that many folks have been vaccinated and COVID cases are on the decline, you might want to consider spending some in-person time with your mentor this summer, depending on your comfort level with social activities. Here are some suggestions of activities to do with your mentor before you leave for school.
1. Spend time getting to know each other by sharing one of your hobbies or interests. Go for a socially distanced hike or bike ride, bring a soccer ball to the park, grab a coffee at an outdoor cafe to discuss a favorite book or movie, catch some outdoor theater or music, etc.
2. Practice doing an Informational Interview with your mentor (this can be done via zoom). Informational interviews are a good way to explore various career paths and to grow your professional network. Ask your mentor to introduce you to any friends they may have in your field to conduct additional informational interviews. Ask them to help you craft an email requesting an interview.
3. Work with your mentor to review your resume and cover letter. Even if your mentor doesn’t work in your field of interest, having a second pair of eyes on your resume is always helpful!
4. Share two of your personal goals with your mentor and ask them to help you outline a plan to achieve those goals.
5. Visit a museum, take an architectural tour, see a show or go watch your favorite team play. If you feel a little awkward just sitting and talking with your mentor, doing an activity together can take the pressure off getting to know someone but still creates a connection.
On Friday, July 23, 2021 we were delighted to welcome the 2021 High Hopes Scholars and honor all of the BCS scholars who graduated with their bachelor’s degrees this past semester. This year we accepted 30 Bachelor’s Degree High Hopes Scholars—9 of whom are transfer students from Berkeley City College—and 14 Community College High Hopes Scholars. Welcome to the BCS community!
Community College High Hopes Scholars
Briana Barbosa Arianna Buendia Camila Garcia-Frausto Adrian Hernandez Emanuel Hernandez Pierreline Jacob Shahm Ketema Khalil Means Shelsea Reyes Maged Saeed Mazin Saeed Miguel Sanchez Nadia Sanchez-Rivera Freenita Williams
Bachelor’s Degree High Hopes Scholars
Amani Aledlah* Andres Alonso Franco Cindy Alonzo Morales Shayla Avery Ty’Ler Banks Bouchra Bouhedda* Daniel Bui* Kelly Camacho Yvette Cardenas Jocelyn Chamu Owen A Cruz Bernabe Stephanie Estrada Ivryaon Fleeton Jennifer Galvez Maria Ibarra Alvarado Nancy Mahmoud Ken Miantezila Gema Morales Mendoza* Monica Navarro* Randy Nguy Isabel Rivera Pon Zoe Seale Shahmir Shaikh* Ayush Shrestha Desiree Solis Ta’Jenai Spencer Nathan Wei* Justin Wong Christian Wortham* Zihao Yang*
Happy October! We hope you’ve been enjoying your classes and that midterms went well. While June feels ages away, now is the time to start thinking about (and applying for) summer internships. In this month’s Scholar Connection, we are sharing a variety of career development opportunities, as well as some internship openings you might be interested in.
Here’s what in this issue:
Introducing Level Up: A new career readiness program from BCS and RepresentEd
Internships Opportunities
FAFSA/Dream Act Renewal
Additional resources for you
As always, reach out to us if have any questions or need support.
All the best, The BCS College Success Team
Lynn Walker, College Success Manager (lynn@berkeleyscholars.org) Colleen Sparks, Interim College Success Advisor (colleen@berkeleyscholars.org) Terrance Powell, College Success Advisor (terrance@berkeleyscholars.org) *Linda Osuorji, College Success Manager (currently on medical leave)
Are you ready to take your career preparation to the next level?
We are thrilled to announce the launch of Level Up: a new career readiness program from Berkeley Community Scholars and RepresentEd.
Designed to Help You
Define personal interests
Develop leadership skills
Improve public speaking, interview skills, teamwork, and social media presence
Build effective and efficient resumes, cover letters, and elevator pitches
Practice and have comfort with Human Centered Design
Leverage mentorship and grow professional connections
About the Program
6-session professional development training
Participants will engage in design thinking, and develop essential soft and hard skills through the completion of a group project
Each participant will learn how to leverage their mentors and build professional networks throughout their college career
Program Requirements
Must have completed at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units
Can attend all 6 group sessions
Willing to work on a team
Willing to complete an individual project that will be shared with others in the community
The INROADS Internship Program prepares talented diverse students across the country for corporate readiness with business soft skills, real-world leadership development activities, academic and career support, and an opportunity for a paid internship.
Several BCS scholars have participated in INROADS, and some have even gotten post-graduation jobs as a result of their internships!
Qualifications
Full-time undergraduate student at an accredited college/university with at least 1 summer before graduating college
Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.8 or higher
Majors in the areas of Business, STEM, or Liberal Arts and an interest in the corporate sector
**Make sure to let your CSA know you are applying, so we can introduce you to the Program Director.
Handshake is a career and job search service used by colleges and universities all around the country—likely including your school. It is a useful tool for finding entry-level jobs and internships and connecting with employers who are recruiting college students. Check out this video for some tips on getting started.
Campus Career Fairs
Career fairs are another great resource for getting started on your job search. At a career fair you can get to know potential employers, discovers jobs you never knew existed, learn what skills specific jobs require, and get practice at interviewing.
Be sure to check out your campus’ Career Center for upcoming workshops, job fairs, and information sessions.
Get a Scholarship by Tutoring!
Want to earn a $7,000 scholarship? Elevate Tutoring provides proprietary training that will help you develop the skills necessary to act as near-peer mentors and academic coaches with an understanding of structural inequity in the education system. You can then enter the classroom fully equipped to provide tutoring to socioeconomically-disadvantaged middle school and high school students.
Open to all majors,applicants should be located in or near the South Bay, be comfortable with high school level math, and have a desire to tutor/mentor younger K-12 students. Applicants should also have financial need and a graduation date no sooner than December 2022.
The 2022-2023 FAFSA and Dream Act applications are open! Don’t forget to renew your financial aid every year. Financial aid is issued on a first come first serve basis. The earlier you submit your application, the better. The FAFSA deadline to receive the Cal Grant is March 2, 2022, so make sure you get your application in today!
Renew Dream Act HERE. Make sure to have your personal identification information and your 2020 tax/income information handy!
Renew FAFSA HERE. Make sure to have your FSA ID and your 2020 tax forms handy!
Resources and Opportunities
BCS Emergency Fund
The BCS Emergency Fund is available to help students meet immediate and essential expenses due to a temporary financial hardship. If you have already received emergency funding and have an additional need, you may be eligible for additional funding. Funding is limited so please contact your College Success Advisor (CSA) if you have any questions and email them your completed application.
BCS is working with two amazing tutors who can help with understanding assignments, reviewing drafts, editing, etc.
Jared B. specializes in language arts tutoring (including English literature, creative writing, social science reporting, and English Language Learner support). He has 5 years of experience teaching bilingual adults and is fluent in Spanish and French and conversationally proficient in Portuguese and Mandarin.
Trisha C. practiced law for 23 years and has taught AP US Government and Politics for the past four years. She now teaches US history at Foothill High School. She is available to help with subjects pertaining to political and historical events. She also can help to advise and edit writing assignments regardless of the subject.
To set up tutoring times with either volunteer, please contact your CSA.
California Rent Assistance
California has just authorized additional funds to provide financial relief to tenants and landlords through budget bill AB832.
This provides $5.2 billion to help struggling California renters by covering rent that a tenant may owe for as far back as April 2020. If you’re a renter and meet the income eligibility requirement and owe back rent, or have future rent payments you anticipate you can’t make, or are facing difficulty paying your utility bills, please apply for this program.
Tenants who live in Alameda County, submit your application through Alameda County’s renter-landlord relief program, Alameda County Housing Secure.
Tenants living in Contra Costa County or the city of Oakland, submit your application here: Housing Is Key.
Berkeley Community Scholars is thrilled to announce our new career readiness program, Level Up.
Level Up is a pilot career readiness program developed in partnership with RepresentEd. Scholars will receive a six (6) week professional development training, engage in design thinking and develop essential soft and hard skills through the completion of a “design challenge”— a group project solving an organizational problem relevant to their home communities. Each participant will learn how to leverage their mentors and build professional networks throughout their college career. At the end of the program, scholars will have the opportunity to present their transformational take-aways.
Level Up consists of 90 – 120 minute sessions and 30 – 60 minutes of homework per session.
Designed to help scholars:
Define personal interests
Develop leadership skills
Build skill sets that improve public speaking, interview skills, teamwork, and social media presence
Build effective and efficient resumes, cover letters, and elevator pitches
Practice and have comfort with Human Centered Design
Leverage mentorship and grow professional connections
Please join the Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) for our 2013 Annual Awards Dinner where we will present the Benjamin Ide Wheeler medal to Hugh Romney, better known worldwide as Wavy Gravy—activist, visionary, philanthropist and compassionate clown extraordinaire.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Hs Lordships, Berkeley Marina
5:30 PM Reception and No Host Cocktails
6:30 PM Dinner
The prestigious award, established in 1929, honors outstanding Berkeley citizens. Wavy Gravy has devoted his life to positive social change, from the founding of Camp Winnarainbow, a summer camp that has benefitted countless disadvantaged California youth, to co-founding the SEVA Foundation, a Berkeley-based non-profit that has funded major healthcare projects in developing countries throughout the past 35 years.
We look forward to a fun-filled evening that honors Wavy Gravy’s humanitarian contributions, highlights our High Hopes Scholars, and celebrates the uniqueness of Berkeley. The dinner will be curated by renowned chef and BCF Chairman Emeritus Narsai David. Proceeds from the dinner support our High Hopes Scholarship Program.
Each year several hundred people from our City join together to celebrate the special qualities of Berkeley, and the people who live here. This is an opportunity to recognize individuals who have contributed to our vitality of life and whose service sustain our shared values of creativity, compassion, social justice and interdependence.
This event brings together an amazing cross section of Berkeley in an unparalleled dedication to people, organizations and the values we share. The dinner is held in the fall, and the date is announced as soon as it is finalized. All proceeds of the event are used to support the work of the Berkeley Community Fund.
At our recent 2013 Annual Awards Dinner, the Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) honored Berkeley activist, philanthropist and clown, Wavy Gravy with the Wheeler Medal, presented to Berkeley’s “Most Useful Citizen.” Susie Medak, 2012 Wheeler Medalist and Executive Director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre bestowed the medal upon Wavy in front of a sold out crowd at Hs Lordships Restaurant. As attendees donned their red clown noses in Wavy’s honor, Susie said that “Wavy Gravy represents our community’s values as a philanthropist, an artist, and a citizen.”
The crowd also had the opportunity to hear from Joleen Ruffin, BCF’s new Executive Director; Chuck Fanning, Vice President of the BCF Board of Directors; and Berhan Bayeh, a 2009 BCF High Hopes Scholar who recently graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in Physics and Economics. BCF was happy to have present at the dinner, past Wheeler Award recipients including Narsai David, Helen and John Meyer, Davida Coady, Robert Cole, Arthur Rosenfeld, and Mal Warwick.
The evening was officiated by Narsai David. BCF was able to raise a record amount of money to support the fund’s High Hopes Scholarship Program.
2014 High Hopes Scholarship Application Period is Open
Deadline for submission is April 9 at Noon PST
The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) is now accepting applications for High Hopes Scholarships for the Class of 2014. The scholarships provide $16,000 (payable in installments of $4,000/year over four years) and mentoring support to Berkeley public high school students who will attend 4-year colleges on a full-time basis.
Twenty plus scholarships will be awarded this year. Funds may be used for tuition, books, room and board, or incidental expenses in connection with the recipient’s college education. In addition to the monetary award, recipients are partnered with a mentor for four years.
BCF evaluates applicants based on financial need, the application package, personal statements, recommendations, and a personal interview. We look for: academic achievement reflected in the required GPA in a challenging mix of courses throughout high school; other activities, including in-school positions, particularly those that reflect leadership and initiative; community service activities and/or work experience.
Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and over in high school and begin attending college full-time in the Fall of 2014. The recipient of the Berkeley High Class of 1951 scholarship must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 in high school.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applicants must show they:
• Are attending Berkeley High School or B-Tech during the 2013-14 academic year;
• Have a cumulative minimum GPA over 2.5 in high school and are academically prepared to attend college;
• Have been substantively involved with their community, school, or family;
• Have the ability to overcome obstacles to achieve academic and personal goals.
• Will be a full-time student at a 4-year accredited college or university in the U. S. in Fall 2013.
Applicants must also
• Document financial need.
• Be available for a personal interview on Wednesday, May 7, 2014. (Interview location will be at the YMCA Teen Center)
• Plan to attend the High Hopes Scholarship Awards ceremony on Monday, June 9, 2014
All finalists will be contacted and interviewed in person before the final awards are made.
For further information, contact the Berkeley Community Fund at info@berkfund.org.
The 2014 High Hopes Scholarship application is now available here. The submittal deadline is Noon (PST), Wednesday, April 9, 2014.
All finalists will be contacted and interviewed before the final awards are made. Interviews will be conducted at the YMCA Teen Center on Wednesday, May 7.
If you have questions or need technical assistance with the application, contact us at info@berkfund.org or call (510) 542-2126.
Good Luck, Class of 2014!
If you would like to receive updates and reminders, sign up for our email list on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/berkfund
As you may know, I am applying to the Berkeley Community Fund for the High Hopes Scholarship. If I am awarded this scholarship, I will receive mentoring support plus $16,000 over the next four years.
Part of the application process is to provide two letters of recommendation. This is where I need your help. Would you be willing to submit a letter of recommendation on my behalf? It would mean a lot to me if you would.
The entire application is online, so if you agree to write the recommendation letter you will receive a request by email from admin@communityforce.com. The email subject line will be “Letter of Recommendation Request – High Hopes Scholarship Program, Berkeley Community Fund.” Inside the email will be a link you can click on which will take you directly to the application site where you can complete the recommendation.
The deadline for me to submit my completed application is Wednesday, April 9 at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time, so I’ll need the recommendation filled out before then.
Thank you so much for your consideration, I look forward to hearing back from you so I can proceed with sending you the recommendation request.
Have Questions? Need Help Completing Your Application?
If you answered yes, help is on the way. We have scheduled several convenient “workshop” times when you can drop in and work with someone from the Berkeley Community Fund to complete your application. A complete list of dates, times and locations is provided below. If you have questions, email the Berkeley Community Fund at info@berkfund.org
Thursday, March 20
Monday, March 24 Tuesday, April 8
3:30-5:00 PM
2nd Floor, YMCA PG&E Teen Center
2111 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Tuesday, March 25
Wednesday, March 26 Monday, April 7** — NEW, just added
3:30-5:00 PM
Computer Lab, Library
Berkeley High School
If you’re applying for the 2014 High Hopes Scholarship, its important to request recommendations very early in the process. This allows the person writing the recommendation with enough time to write the best recommendation for you. You will need to request recommendations from TWO people
one who is familiar with your academic achievement, usually a teacher
one (not a relative) who is familiar with your activities outside the classroom
Here are 6 easy steps you should follow to get your recommendation letters.
Step 1:
Talk to the two people you would like to write the recommendation. Tell them you are applying to the High Hopes Scholarship program and need a letter of recommendation. If they agree to write a recommendation, get their email address and let them know they will receive a request in their email. The email will come from “admin@communityforce.com” with the subject line “Letter of Recommendation Request – High Hopes Scholarship Program, Berkeley Community Fund.”
You can also email the request to them, here is a link to a sample email you can send asking for a recommendation.
Step 2:
Once they have agreed to write the recommendation, go back to the application (here is the link to the application site). In your application dashboard, click on the “REQUEST” button.
Step 3:
Follow the instructions to fill out the name and email address of both recommenders (Teacher and Other).
Step 4:
Follow up with the recommender to make sure they received the recommendation request. If not, ask them to check their spam. If they have any questions, they can email us for further help at info@berkfund.org
Step 5:
Regularly check the status of your recommendation request, click on the REQUEST button at any time to see if your letter of recommendation has been received. Follow up with the recommender if they have not submitted the recommendation letter.
Step 6:
Once your letter of recommendation has been received, take a moment to thank the person who recommended you.
If you are applying for the 2014 High Hopes Scholarship, you may have experienced trouble with getting the College or University Section to read as 100% completed. See the screenshot below for the section that needs to be filled out in order to complete your application.
The Berkeley Community Fund is expanding our support program! Please share this job description with people who would make a great addition to our team.
College Success Coordinator Job Description
Position Overview
The College Success Coordinator (CSC) is a new part-time position that will play a critical role in ensuring the success of our students. The CSC will report to the Executive Director (ED) and will be the second staff person to join the organization. The CSC will serve as the primary liaison to students and mentors, administer the scholarship program, provide information and support, plan events, and work with constituents and partner organizations to build a support network for the High Hopes scholars and mentors. The initial term is for one year and may be renewed.
Key Responsibilities
Applicant Outreach and Selection (20%)
• Work with the ED to manage the scholarship application process.
• Conduct outreach to Berkeley High School, Berkeley Technology Academy and community-based college readiness organizations.
• Assist with the delivery of presentations about the High Hopes Scholarship Program.
• Conduct application assistance workshops.
• Assist with the application review and interview process.
• Manage reminders and notifications to applicants throughout the process.
• Assist with the planning and execution of the scholarship awards ceremony.
Scholar Support (45%)
• Manage and track the disbursement of scholarship funds.
• Conduct outreach to all Scholars: maintain active and consistent contact; troubleshoot challenges and issues; provide support, resources, and referrals as needed.
• Collect updates and transcripts, monitor grades and progress to degree completion.
• Maintain well-organized records and provide reports on students’ progress and activities to BCF and individual donors.
• Assist with the planning and execution of our summer college transition programs.
• Build community among students including working with partner organizations to implement peer support programs and networks at selected colleges and universities.
Mentor Program (20%)
• Support the scholar-mentor relationship.
• Help with mentor selection process.
• Check in with mentors throughout the year, providing resources and referrals as needed.
• Organize training and social events for mentors and scholars.
• Help build community among mentors.
Other (15%)
• Work with ED to create and execute marketing and communications plan that includes managing the web site, email communication, and social media.
• Assist in the collection of qualitative and quantitative data to help guide decision-making and funding applications.
• Perform various administrative tasks to support programs.
• Participate in and assist with all BCF events including the Annual Wheeler Award dinner (October) and Holiday Party (December).
Qualifications
The CSC must be culturally competent with the ability to communicate and relate effectively to a wide variety of people. Successful candidates will possess the following:
Required
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Passion for creating educational opportunity and equity.
• Creativity and adaptability with the ability to effectively resolve issues.
• Effective communication and interpersonal abilities with the skills to listen, solicit input, share information and respond tactfully and appropriately.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently to move projects forward.
• Comfort with the use of technology, cloud-based software, and social media.
• Strong writing skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to self-manage and meet internal deadlines.
• Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends
Highly Desirable
• Some knowledge of
o college access and success processes and best practices for working with first-generation and underrepresented college students.
o student financial aid processes and campus-based student support services.
o theories of student development and maturation .
• Experience working as an advisor or counselor to college-going or college-bound youth.
Work Environment
The BCF has one small office located on the bottom floor of the YMCA PG&E Teen Center in downtown Berkeley, close to BART, with numerous lunch and coffee break destinations. We use the YMCA for many of the administrative functions of the organization and the CSC is technically an employee of the YMCA of the Central Bay Area. The CSC has a flexible work schedule with the option of working from home and coming in to the office as needed.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a part-time (25 hours per week), exempt position.
How to Apply
Send an email to info@berkfund.org by Friday, May 23, 2014. Attach a cover letter that identifies the reasons you are applying for this position and a current resume that includes education, job history and at least two (2) references. Please include a current email address and phone number.
No phone inquiries please.
Background Check Requirement:
This job is subject to successful completion of a criminal background check.
The BCF is an equal opportunity employer.
About the Berkeley Community Fund The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) provides college scholarships and mentoring support for academically-talented and resilient Berkeley high school students attending four-year colleges and universities. Scholars receive $16,000 paid directly to them over four years plus the support and guidance of an adult mentor. Our program is called the High Hopes Scholarship Program.
Our scholars come from groups generally underrepresented in higher education; many are first generation college students and/or recent immigrants. Our goal is to help them to better navigate the demands and challenges of higher education and increase the likelihood that they will successfully obtain a college degree.
BCF has focused on social and economic justice issues and the common good since it was founded in 1992. Beginning in 2007, we refined our focus and now use donations from the community to develop and support our High Hopes Scholarship Program. Since 2008, we have awarded $1.4 million in scholarships to 92 motivated and promising Berkeley high school graduates, all of whom have demonstrated great resilience in overcoming early life challenges. Over 80% of our scholars have earned bachelor ’s degrees or are still enrolled in four-year colleges and on-track to graduate.
