The Summer Search family just got a whole lot bigger!
Philadelphia’s new sophomores, with a few mentors sprinkled in, having fun at their Outward Bound fitness event.
Every spring, we welcome a new class of high school sophomores into our program — a new group of remarkable young people with the potential for great things.
A group of New York City’s newest sophomores with their welcome packets.
After completing their interviews and being selected, students meet with their mentors individually, and then come together with other newly-accepted sophomores at orientation workshops and fitness events (which are physical challenges to help them prepare for their first summer trips).
Boston sophomores “breaking in their boots” at their fitness event.
Here’s a little breakdown of our latest sophomore class:
• 578 sophomores from 106 different high schools
• 54% female, 46% male
• 93% qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch
• 88% are first generation*
(*will be the first in their families to go to college)
Seattle sophomores with their mentors (and a few high school senior volunteers) at their fitness event.
Of course, bringing 578 new students into our program takes a LOT of work. So, we want to send a special shout out to our incredible staff who worked so hard to make this possible, from conducting student interviews, to preparing informational packets, to organizing welcome events.
Our #NorthBay staff working hard to prepare the packets for their new sophomores!! pic.twitter.com/AsHJ81jr6s
— Summer Search (@SummerSearch) February 19, 2016
While we’re happy to present a few numbers and percentages to help introduce you to the newest cohort of Summer Searchers, we know that our students are in fact MUCH MORE than statistics. They each come to us with their own unique stories, strengths, and challenges. We are very proud to have an impact on those stories by helping our students develop their amazing potential.
A group of Bay Area sophomores, mentors, and volunteers pose after conquering a California mountain on their fitness hike.
So please join us in welcoming our new Summer Searchers and wishing them luck as they prepare to leave for their first summer trips, the first big step in their transformative Summer Search journeys!