700+ high school
sophomores have chosen
to become summer
searchers

ABOUT US

Founded in 2003, Summer Search Seattle is now proud to serve more than 800 young people in Tukwila, Kent, Renton, and Highline.

Student/Family FAQs
Get Involved

Throughout 2026, Seattle students had mentors in their corner, people they could to throughout the year for one-one-one support, honest conversations, and connections with their peers. 

STUDENTS SERVED & MAJOR MILESTONES

150 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

134 POST-SECONDARY PARTICIPANTS

~500 SEATTLE ALUMNI

100% GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL

83% ACCEPTED TO A 2- OR 4-YEAR COLLEGE

79%  ARE OR WILL BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE

Read our 2026 Impact Report

Hear fromSummer Searchers

Mohamed Abdi

“Looking back at my experiences the last 5 years my partnership with Summer Search helped me a lot to navigate to where I am today. I was able to get the emotional support I needed from my mentor….and I was able to get the leadership resources I needed; especially when my mentor put me into a fellowship for the community leadership institute with Puget Sound Sage….That fellowship trained me to run for office one day, which helped me get elected!”

  • 2013Joined
    Summer Search
  • Became one of the youngest elected
    official in Washington state when he
    successfully won in 2021     Fun fact
  • Tukwila City
    Council member     Where are they now?

Hear fromSummer Searchers

Savannah Smith

“Summer Search helped me build confidence in myself over the years by creating space for me to reflect on my strengths… Having a mentor who believed in me … made all the difference in me being able to pursue my dreams and evolve into the person I am today”

  • 2013Joined
    Summer Search
  • Savannah was
    featured in Forbes
    30 under 30 list     Fun fact
  • Savannah is the co-founder and director of youth
    engagement at Sea Potential LLC, which has a
    mission of increasing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, &
    people of color) representation in maritime.     Where are they now?
Read more about Savannah’s journey

Join our Board of Directors

The Seattle Board of Directors is a diverse group of volunteers dedicated to Summer Search’s mission. Board members amplify our purpose and provide new insights and fresh ideas for supporting young people in Seattle.

REACH OUT

Become an Annual Donor

Your annual support fuels our work to provide professional mentoring, summer experiences, and post-secondary and career support to more students each year.

DONATE NOW

Schedule a Call or In-Person Meeting

Want to learn more about how you can become more involved at Summer Search? Schedule a call with  a member of our team to learn more about how you can support our work!

REACH OUT

I am a huge
Formula 1 fan
and really a pretty
big fan of most sports.

Melissa Johnson

Meet Summer Search Seattle Executive Director, Melissa Johnson! She is a nonprofit executive and fundraising leader with extensive experience advancing educational access, community health, and opportunity across the Puget Sound region. Melissa has a proven track record of building strategic partnerships, leading high-performing teams, and growing philanthropic support to expand impact for students, families, and communities. Her work is grounded in mission-driven leadership, community engagement, and a deep commitment to helping young people thrive. Watch her video and reach out to learn more about her!

2026

Joined Summer Search

Spending time with my family. I have a huge and diverse family and they bring such joy.

What Is Their Favorite Activity?

Melissa Johnson

Meet Summer Search Seattle Executive Director, Melissa Johnson! She is a nonprofit executive and fundraising leader with extensive experience advancing educational access, community health, and opportunity across the Puget Sound region. Melissa has a proven track record of building strategic partnerships, leading high-performing teams, and growing philanthropic support to expand impact for students, families, and communities. Her work is grounded in mission-driven leadership, community engagement, and a deep commitment to helping young people thrive. Watch her video and reach out to learn more about her!

2026

Joined Summer Search

I am a huge Formula 1 fan and really a pretty big fan of most sports.

Fun Fact

Spending time with my family. I have a huge and diverse family and they bring such joy.

What Is Their Favorite Activity?

2026 seattle gala

Thanks to our community, the Summer Search Seattle Gala was an evening of connection, shared purpose, and stories that will stay with us long after the room cleared. Together, we raised nearly $500,000 to support Seattle students through mentoring, summer experience trips, and long-term support..

Relive the evening by visiting last year's event website.

JOIN US ON APRIL 3, 2027 FOR THE SUMMER SEARCH SEATTLE GALA

What we're up to now

Check out the latest events and happenings at Summer Search Seattle! Click below to learn more or, if no events are scheduled right now, reach out to seattle@summersearch.org to learn about other ways you get involved.

Events

Events Search and Views Navigation

Event Views Navigation

Today

  • 2027 Summer Search Seattle Gala

    Join us at the Summer Search Seattle Gala on Saturday, April 3rd, 2027 at the Museum of Flight for an unforgettable evening celebrating the young leaders at the heart of Summer Search. Together with our alumni, families, supporters, partners, and friends, we'll honor the community that makes their journeys possible.

Need Answers? Check out these Questions Below!
What is Summer Search?
Summer Search is a year-round program that empowers young people to confidently pursue their vision of success during and after high school through mentoring, summer experiential learning opportunities, and post-secondary and career supports. We believe that all young people should have the support to pursue their purpose and secure their financial futures. Starting in sophomore year, students will be paired with a staff mentor and a group of peers for regular conversations where they will work together on building social emotional and leadership skills and exploring college and career options after high school. Students will receive support from our community as they journeys from high school through to launching their career.
Who is eligible to participate in the Summer Search program?
Sophomores who attend one of our partner schools (or are affiliated with one of our partners) and who meet our eligibility guidelines can apply to Summer Search. To be eligible for Summer Search, prospective students must be sophomores from a partner school and qualify for Free and Reduced lunch.
Do I need to pay to be a part of the Summer Search program?
No! Through the generosity of the Summer Search community, Summer Search is fully-funded (aka: free!).
How do I apply for Summer Search?
Ready to become a Summer Searcher? Click here!
Who are Summer Search Mentors?
Summer Search mentors are full-time, paid professional staff who are trained in social-emotional learning, critical consciousness development, college and career advising and trauma-sensitive practices. Summer Search mentors are unique in their backgrounds and skills coming into Summer Search. Some have previously worked as admissions counselors and others have worked with wilderness programs. Summer Search staff are united in their ability to see and center the strengths and voice of Summer Search students. All staff complete a background check before they are hired.
How does Summer Search ensure students are safe on their summer experiences?
Summer Search participants are awarded scholarships to participate in summer experiences after their sophomore and junior years. These experiences are opportunities for growth and connection that are both challenging and empowering. Traditionally, during the first summer, Summer Searchers go on a 2-3 week outdoor adventure in their home state or another state. Backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, and many fun connecting activities are some of the most common adventures that our students experience. To ensure the safety of all participants, Summer Search does not operate the summer experiences directly. Instead, we partner closely with the best professionals in the field who are specifically trained to lead summer programs for youth. We provide parents/families and students information about the program they will attend and be available to answer all questions about it.
What type of Summer Programming is offered?
Summer Search participants are awarded scholarships to participate in summer experiences after their sophomore and junior years. These experiences are opportunities for growth and connection that are both challenging and empowering. Traditionally during the first summer, Summer Searchers go on a 2-3 week outdoor adventure in their home state or another state. Backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, cycling, and sailing are some of the most common adventures that our students experience. The second summer is typically a cultural immersion/service (in the United States or abroad) experience, an academic program, or internship/career opportunity. Parents/guardians and participants will always have a choice about whether to participate in a summer experience.
What about the cost of attending college?
Summer Search staff will partner with students to find a good fit college (or explore an alternative pathway like technical school) and provide support in navigating the process of securing financial aid and scholarships to make college as affordable as possible. We take an individualized approach to advising participants on their post-secondary pathway to ensure that we are supporting each individual student’s goals and aspirations. The majority of Summer Searchers are graduating college with <$20,000 of debt as compared to borrowers between the ages of 25-34 with an average debt of $33,260.
How does Summer Search support my student's career goals?
Your student will join the Summer Search community and will have access to a national network of staff, alumni, board and corporate partners for professional development opportunities including career-based coaching, job shadow days, internship and job postings. These opportunities are offered via a private portal, Summer Search CONNECT, which your student will be invited to join.
What is the commitment from participants and families?
The power of this program comes from the combination of the depth of support provided by Summer Search and the mutual investment made by each young person in our program. Initially to enroll in the program, students and their parent/guardian will be asked to complete an application which includes providing information about your family’s financial picture. Once a student is accepted into the program, parents will be invited to talk with their student’s mentor over the phone, review materials about the program in your preferred language, and attend an orientation to share more details and answer questions. There are other opportunities for parents/guardians to connect with their student's mentor through the program, including attending events and meetings. There is no cost to participate in the Summer Search program.
Who can I contact for more information?
For more information, please reach out to Jaylin Prescott at jprescott@summersearch.org
OUR COMMUNITY & REFERRAL PARTNERS

Our community and referral partners are critical to introducing us to new Summer Searchers! Click here to learn more about becoming a referral partner.

Renton Sr High School
Lindbergh High School
Albert Talley High School
Highline High School
Mount Rainer High School
Tyee High School

Become A
Summer Searcher Today!

Ready to discover your Power and Potential?
Join Summer Search for personalized mentorship, fully funded summer experiences, and a network of support as you shape your future. Your path to possibility begins here!

Apply Today!

Seattle

635 Andover Park West Building 8 Suite 200 Tukwila, WA 98188

206.729.0911

seattle
@summersearch.org

Land Acknowledgement

Our Seattle office resides on the unceded land of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Duwamish, and Muckleshoot peoples, past and present. We honor with gratitude the land itself, and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations.

We recognize this as just one step in acknowledging the history of forced removal of indigenous people from their land and our work toward racial justice.

We ask you to join us in acknowledging the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Duwamish, and Muckleshoot communities, their elders both past and present, and future generations.

The Summer Search Seattle Team

Behind every student is a dedicated team of staff, mentors, and community partners who believe in their potential and work tirelessly to provide the support they need to succeed.

Join our Team!

Alecia Cunningham

Senior Director of Development

Joe Hess

High School Mentor

Melissa Johnson

Summer Search Seattle Executive Director

Jeff Lewis

Director of Programs

Angel Munguia

Post-Secondary Mentor

Trisha Paulino

High School Mentor

see what’s happening on ‘THE GRAM’!

Follow our journey