Ernesto Garcia, Jr.
Berkeley Community Fund High Hopes Scholarship
Cal Poly, Pomona

Ernesto is graduating from Berkeley High School’s Academic Choice program.  He participated in the Berkeley Scholars to Cal program and worked as a teacher’s aide and on construction jobs with his dad. He also played soccer for the BHS Yellowjackets and a competitive club team. Ernesto is especially honored to have trained with his club team at West Ham United Academy in England. He is thinking of majoring in international business and marketing and minoring in kinesiology. He will be a first generation college student.

Rogelio Castro
Richard K. Lashof
University of California, Santa Cruz

Rogelio is graduating from the IB program at Berkeley High School, where he was a member of Chicano Latino Club and the Yellow Jackets baseball team. The avid A’s and Warriors fan says the teamwork of club sports was instrumental in shaping his character. His experience working at a local publishing company and with Youth Works helped, too. Rogelio has not yet decided on a major. He  would like to combine his interests in engineering, architecture and infrastructure design to start his own company someday.

Aia Abusareefh
Ask.com High Hopes Scholarship
University of California, Santa Cruz

Aia is graduating from Berkeley High School’s Academic Choice community. She has had her sights set on college for many years, participating in BHS’ Bridge Program and saving for tuition by working at an animal shelter and a Japanese restaurant. Her favorite hobbies, running and working out, help her stay focused. A true fitness buff, she plans to study health-related sciences and ultimately become a cardiac surgeon. Originally from Palestine, Aia will be the first in her family to attend college

Angel Robinson
Berkeley Rotary High Hopes Scholarship
University of California Riverside

Angel graduated from the Academy of Medicine and Public Service at Berkeley High School. She was active in the Black Student Union and participated in the Bridge program, in addition to working at a pharmacy over 22 hours each week. Angel confirmed her desire to be a social worker during an internship with the Vera Casey Center in Berkeley. Her sights are set on a degree in social work, followed by a career in child protective services.

Emily Maciel
Pardee Family Berkeley Rotary High Hopes Scholarship
University of California Santa Cruz

Emily is graduating from the Academic Choice program at Berkeley High School. She is a National Honor Society member who loves to dance and thrives on helping others. Throughout school, Emily enjoyed tutoring underclassmen, volunteering as an activity leader for the RISE Summer Bridge Program and working at the animal shelter. She is considering a career in teaching or veterinary medicine.

Enrique Lopez
Reynolds Berkeley Rotary High Hopes Scholarship
University of California Davis

Enrique graduated from the Arts and Humanities Academy at Berkeley High School. He was on the track and field team and devoted significant time to public service. He was an intern with Councilmember Kriss Worthington’s office, a student representative to BUSD’s Budget Advisory Committee, and an appointee to Berkeley’s Community Health Commission. Enrique also interned at Stanford’s Medical Youth Science Program. He interested in pursuing a career in sports medicine, physical therapy or training.

Laila Bendrai
Pardee Family Berkeley Rotary High Hopes Scholarship
Yale University 

Laila graduated from the IB program at Berkeley High School, where she was a photographer for the BHS Jacket and a defender on the Yellowjackets field hockey team. Outside of school, she was a YMCA Youth & Government delegate, volunteered at the Berkeley Food and Housing Project and enjoyed oil painting at a local art studio. Laila, who emigrated from Morocco as a child, plans to explore her many academic interests before deciding on a major. She will be the first in her family to attend college.

Abdulalim A’Omer
Owen Family High Hopes Scholar
University of California, Davis

Abdul is graduating from Berkeley High’s IB program, where he was a student leader. He founded and was co-president of the BHS Eritrean Student Association. He also served as vice president, president and board member of the BHS Muslim Youth Club. Abdul is a co-founder of the Tutto Everything clothing brand and also works part-time as a manager at the Oakland Coliseum. He is interested in studying marketing and pursuing a business degree. He will be the first in his family to attend college.

Solwazi Allah
Battle Family High Hopes Scholarship
University of California, Santa Cruz

Solwazi graduated from the Green Academy at Berkeley High School. He enjoyed putting the lessons of his biotechnology class into action as an intern for Bayer Health Care in Berkeley. He has a love of fishing and credits it for his devotion to Aquatic Biology and
the marine environment. Solwazi was a founding member of the BHS Fishing Club. He is interested in pursuing marine biology research at UCSC.

Omar Aguilar- Martinez
Andres and Pio Pico High Hopes Scholarship
San Francisco State University 

Omar is passionate about helping kids succeed. He has tutored elementary students in math in various programs, including at the Multicultural Institute. He also was a member of Berkeley High’s ALANA (African, Latino, Asian, and Native American) club, which brings together minority groups to serve the community. Omar, who came from Mexico when he was 9, will be the first in his family to attend college. His goals are to become a mechanical engineer and to work on projects that benefit the environment.

Jacari Trent-Pontoon
Berkeley Community Fund High Hopes Scholar
California State University, East Bay

Jacari is graduating from the IB program at Berkeley High School, where he participated in the Bridge Program. After completing an EMT class at Berkeley Adult School, he interned in the medical clinic at Highland Hospital. Jacari’s many hobbies include mixed-martial arts, boxing and baking, but he is most passionate about art and animation. He would like to write a series of graphic novels and produce a cartoon. He will be the first in his family to attend college.

Program Assistant (Summer Intern)

About the Berkeley Community Fund

The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) provides college scholarships, college success and mentoring support for academically-talented and resilient Berkeley high school students through our High Hopes Scholarship Program and most recently through the Berkeley Promise for Community College Students. Our scholars come from groups generally underrepresented in higher education: students of color, first generation college students, students from lower-income families, and immigrants.  Our goal is to support them in  navigating 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 the early nineties. Beginning in 2007, we refined our focus and now use donations from the community to develop and support Berkeley public school graduates on their college journey. Since 2008, we have awarded more than $2.6 million in scholarships to 168 students, all of whom have demonstrated great resilience in overcoming early life challenges. Over 90% of our scholars have earned bachelor’s degrees or are still enrolled in four-year colleges and on-track to graduate.

Position Overview

BCF is recruiting current college students to fill our summer intern positions to support aspiring college students from Berkeley public schools as they prepare to begin their college journeys. These positions welcome students who are interested in gaining meaningful experience in program administration that will help prepare them for their future careers.

Key Responsibilities

Event and Meeting Planning, Support, Set Up and Execution

• Scholarship Awards Ceremony -- June 12, 2017
• High Hopes Scholars Summer Orientation -- June  24, 2017
• Berkeley Summer Send Off -- TBD
• Summer student one-on-one meetings -- various
• Annual Dinner -- October

Assist the Executive Director and College Success Manager with activities related to the planning and coordination of BCF events including – but not limited to –

• Participating in planning meetings
• Facilitating and leading workshops
• Contributing ideas for workshops and activities at events
• Assistance with recruiting sponsors
• Recruiting student volunteers
• Making calls and sending emails to students, board members, and other partners
• Set up, management, and clean up at events
• Registration management
• Assistance with volunteer training and supervision
• Creation of marketing and communications materials
• Creating, printing/copying and organizing event materials
• Creating and sending out mailings

• Data entry and filing
• Assistance with website, email communication and social media
• Various other tasks as assigned

Duration

Three to four months over the summer starting as early as mid-May and ending as late as mid-September depending on when school ends and begins. For students who attend school in the Bay Area, this position may extend through the Fall.

Qualifications

Successful candidates must be Berkeley residents (be able to show proof), current college students under age 25 and will possess the following:

• Passion for creating educational opportunity and equity.
• Organized and dependable.
• Be able to adapt to a variable work environment.
• Comfort with the use of technology, cloud-based software, and social media.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to self-manage and meet internal deadlines.
• Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Compensation

Each intern is an employee of the City of Berkeley through the YouthWorks program. To be hired you must complete an application and interview with the YouthWorks coordinator and be accepted into the program. Pay is $10.50/hour + 6.87% benefits. Number of hours per week are negotiable (20+) based on successful candidate’s summer schedule. In addition, each intern will receive transportation support and an additional cash stipend monthly from BCF dependent on the number of hours worked.

Work Environment

The BCF has a 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.

If you are interested in applying, please contact Lynn at lynn@berkfund.org

For students invited to participate in the interview process for the 2017 High Hopes Scholarship Program (Berkeley Community Fund and Berkeley Rotary scholarships), details are as follows.

1. On April 26, applicants received notification by email on the status of their application. If you did not receive an email from us by the end of the day on April 26, please check your spam folder. If you cannot find an email from us, send a message to lynn@berkfund.org to find out if you have an interview.

All emails are sent to the email address you provided in your application.

2. If you have been invited for an interview, you must also attend the Finalists Meet & Greet scheduled for Monday, May 1 from 4:30 to 6pm at the YMCA Teen Center.

3. If you have been invited for an interview, you will receive an email from Lynn Walker with your interview time. If you have not received an email from us by the end of the day on Monday, May 1, please check your spam folder. If you cannot find an email from us, send a message to lynn@berkfund.org to find what your interview time is.

4. There is additional information that we will need to receive from you by Wednesday, May 3 at 6pm. Please log in to our application portal and complete the pre-interview questions.

5. Interviews WILL NOT be held at the YMCA Teen Center.

6. Interviews WILL be held at the UC Berkeley Career Center at 2440 Bancroft Ave, Berkeley -- across from the UC Berkeley campus on Saturday, May 6 between 9am and 1pm.

7. You will need to arrive at the UCB Career Center at least 20 minutes before your scheduled interview time to fill out paperwork and get your photograph taken. Please allow enough time in your schedule to arrive on time. e.g. if your interview is at 10:00 AM, you should plan on arriving no later than 9:40 AM.

College Success Advisor

About the Berkeley Community Fund

The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) empowers Berkeley youth from lower-income families to achieve their aspirations by providing them with scholarships, connections and other supports instrumental to success in college and beyond. Through our High Hopes Scholarship Program, we work with students attending four-year colleges and universities across the United States. Scholars receive $16,000 paid directly to them over four years plus a number of other supports to help them successfully complete college. In 2017, we will pilot a program for students who attend community college and plan to transfer to a 4-year institution. Our scholars come from groups generally underrepresented in higher education; many are students of color, recent immigrants to the U.S., and/or the first in their families to attend college.  Our goal is to help them 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 the early nineties. We refined our focus in 2007 and now use donations from the community to support college success for Berkeley students. Since 2008, we have awarded more than $2.68 million in scholarships to 168 motivated and promising Berkeley public high school graduates, all of whom have demonstrated great resilience in overcoming early life challenges. Over 90% of our scholars have earned bachelor’s degrees or persisting in college.

Position Overview

The College Success Advisor (CSA) plays a critical role in ensuring the success of our scholarship recipients in obtaining a college degree. The CSA reports to the Executive Director (ED) and serves as the primary liaison to students and mentors. The CSA works with the College Success Manager (CSM) to support students in our High Hopes Scholarship program by providing information, supporting and counseling students, planning student and mentor events, and working with constituents and partner organizations to build a support network for the High Hopes Scholars. The CSA also has primary responsibility for the development and implementation of the mentorship program including recruiting, training and supporting mentors. This is a non-exempt, full time (40 hours per week) position with a comprehensive benefits package.

Key Responsibilities

Applicant Outreach and Selection (10%)

• • Review scholarship applications and make recommendations to the scholarship committee on scholar selection.
• • Work with the CSM to plan and execute interview day and the scholarship awards ceremony.

Scholar Counseling and Support (45%)

• • Manage and track the disbursement of scholarship funds.
• • Conduct outreach to selected 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.
• • Work with the CSM to plan, manage and execute summer college transition programs.
• • Build community among students including developing and implementing peer support programs and networks at selected colleges and universities.
• • Facilitate success of the scholar-mentor relationship.

Mentor Program (35%)

• • Work with the Board of Directors’ Mentor Committee to develop and implement an annual plan for recruitment, selection, training, and recognition of volunteer mentors.
• • Build relationships with social, civic, corporate and local organizations to develop and/or utilize volunteer mentors.
• • Check in with mentors throughout the year, providing resources and referrals as needed.
• • Develop and organize training and social events for mentors and scholars.
• • Help build community among mentors.
• • Maintain updated records on volunteer mentors.
• • Work with the CSM and scholars to plan and execute the annual holiday party.

Other (10%)

• • Work with the ED and CSM to create and execute the marketing and communications plan related to students and mentors that includes gathering student stories, updating the web site, email communications, and social media.
• • Assist in the collection of qualitative and quantitative data to help guide decision-making and funding applications.
• • Perform various administrative tasks related to the High Hopes Scholarship Program.
• • Participate in and assist with all BCF events including the Annual Dinner and Spring Event.
• • Support organizational objectives as needed.
• • Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

The CSA must be cross-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.
• • Proficient with the use of office-related applications, 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.
• • Flexibility and appreciation of the challenges working in a resource-constrained environment.

Highly Desirable

• • Some knowledge of college access and success processes, best practices for working with first-generation and underrepresented college students, student financial aid processes, campus-based student support services, theories of student development and maturation, and the role of mentors in the success of college-aged students.
• • Experience working as an advisor or counselor to college-going or college-bound youth.
• • Experience in volunteer management.

Work Environment

The BCF has a 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.

Salary and Benefits

BCF offers a competitive salary and benefits package including health and dental coverage, flexible work hours, a gym membership, and paid vacation and sick leave. Salary is dependent on experience. BCF actively supports the growth of all employees and encourages professional development, networking, and collaboration. We utilize the YMCA of the Central Bay Area (Y) for many of the administrative functions of the organization and the CSA is technically an employee of the Y.

Start Date

Official start date is July 3, 2017. In addition, the CSA will be required to attend the 2017 High Hopes Scholars Summer Orientation scheduled for Saturday, June 24, 2017.

Supervisory and Other Duties

This position has no direct staff supervisory responsibilities but may work closely with program assistants, student interns, scholars and volunteers. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of the activities, duties or responsibilities that are required.

How To Apply

Send your resume and cover letter to info@berkfund.org Subject: BCF College Success Advisor. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2017.

The BCF is an equal opportunity employer. For more information about us, visit our web site at www.berkfund.org

The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) Annual Dinner will take place on October 28 at the Pauley Ballroom, on the UC Berkeley campus. The event will honor Dr. Vicki Alexander with the 2017 Benjamin Ide Wheeler Award. Proceeds will go toward BCF’s High Hopes Scholarship and Promise programs providing college scholarships and support for graduates of Berkeley public schools.

The High Hopes Scholarship Program was established in 2007 for Berkeley youth from lower income families and groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education. The program helps its scholars succeed in earning a college degree by providing direct financial support; guidance from a college success counselor who helps them navigate the various challenges faced by first-generation-to-college students; and connections to volunteer mentors who provide moral support, guidance and connections to their professional networks. In 2017, BCF launched a program for community college students from Berkeley through the Berkeley Promise.

Over 90% of BCF’s scholars have graduated or are persisting in earning a college degree compared to a 25% graduation/persistence rate for students from similar income quartiles. Because of this success, community support of the program has grown every year. BCF granted 10 High Hopes Scholarships in 2008. It now supports over 100 matriculating students, 90% of whom are first generation college students. They attend colleges across the country, ranging from Cal State schools to Yale University.

ABOUT THE 2016 WHEELER AWARD 
BCF is thrilled to be giving this year’s Benjamin Ide Wheeler Award to Dr. Vicki Alexander. Dr. Vicki, as she is affectionately known, can be considered the “mother of Berkeley public health.” Since coming to the city, she has been devoted to improving health for the citizens of Berkeley, in particular its low-income residents. Her expertise has been studying the social determinant of health, and then, based on those findings, implementing programs to overcome social, economic and racial barriers. After “retiring” form the city in 2006, Dr. Vicki founded, and currently serves as interim executive director and board president, of Healthy Black Families, a Berkeley-based nonprofit working towards full health equity for all black children and families.

The Benjamin Ide Wheeler Medal was established in 1929 by the Service Club of Berkeley to honor the city’s “most useful citizen.” It is named after the University of California president who was best known for transforming the school from a small land grant college into a world-renowned university. President Wheeler recognized that the fundamental basis for democracy is drawn from healthy local communities. Today, the award honors individuals whose broad vision, community engagement, and actions improve the quality of life for a significant number of people in Berkeley and beyond.

To learn about sponsorship opportunities, please visit send an email to info@berkfund.org

Alexis Fuentes

California State University, East Bay

Berkeley Community Fund High Hopes Scholarship

Alexis aspires to pursue a career as a software engineer and create video games. Throughout high school, he was involved in a Community Meal program providing meals for the homeless and was a student at the Y-Scholars Program, giving him the opportunity to improve academically. These experiences motivated him to give back and became a tutor for BRIDGE students. For three years he has been attending a comics appreciation club that has helped him grow as a creative writer. Alexis will be graduating from AC and is the first person in his family to go to college.

San Francisco State University

Berkeley Community Fund High Hopes Scholarship

Miguel will be graduating from AMPS and is the first person in his family to go to college. He has been in the Y-Scholars Program since freshman year and is an advocate for immigrant rights on campus, bringing awareness to such issues. He participated in an internship at Highland Hospital and Oakland Children’s Hospital, working alongside doctors in the NeoNatal Intensive Care Unit and Emergency department. Miguel has a passion for photography and hopes to enter a career in which he can be an advocate for minorities.