United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County’s Successful Students Impact Council partners with community organizations to help high school students plan their next steps after graduation. Even for the most capable students with highly engaged parents, applying for college admissions and scholarships can be challenging. We connect students with resources that will empower them to reach their full potential. That is what Eli, a Senior at McCollum High School learned from his Graduation Coach.
Eli is an ambitious student who is involved with school activities like track, is Vice President of Student Council and even works as a manager in a restaurant. While excelling academically is nothing new for Eli, planning for college is a daunting task for everyone. That’s where our Impact Partner, Communities In Schools (CIS), stepped in to help him plan out his post-high school life.
When Eli first connected with CIS, he wasn’t looking for anything more than school supplies.
“I needed school supplies and they helped me get those supplies,” Eli said. “Once I brought back the enrollment papers, Mrs. Lara began to guide me with my plans after high school with a focus on finding scholarships to help me financially with college.”
He was paired with a Graduation Coach and a workplace mentor from a local animal clinic to learn valuable career skills.
During their monthly meetings, Eli’s Graduation Coach guided him on how to create weekly goals that kept him motivated at a time when the dreaded “senioritis” sinks its teeth into soon-to-be graduates. Before long, Eli had a plan for college and applied for several scholarships.
“I feel like I have someone that wants me to actually succeed and do well,” Eli confessed. “It is a constant push from them for me to do better. They have been a big factor in my senior year and I will be forever grateful for them.”
Eli is set to start his freshman year at Texas State University this fall and will receive the Bobcat Promise Scholarship.
Our Successful Students Impact Council empowers students with resources that prepare them for college and the 21st-century workforce. Connecting students like Eli with services that assist with college admissions, scholarships and mentorship are just a few of the ways that United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County helps students reach their full potential.
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Categories: Impact Stories |
