This fall, twenty-six Breakthrough students are beginning their college journeys. As our students step onto campuses across the U.S., they are culminating years of hard work and dedication. We recognize that being accepted to college is just one aspect of the path to higher education. Many other factors, namely a school’s affordability, influence students’ ability […]
This week, we chatted with Maite Garcia, a first-year student at CSU San Marcos. Maite is already proving to be a self-advocate, and we can’t wait to see what’s to come for her in the world of college. Emma: What were you feeling the week before you started classes? Maite: The week before classes started […]
Breakthrough high school students have found engaging ways to spend their summers as they begin to develop their skills and prepare for college and beyond. Rising high school junior Angela Mendoza interned for four weeks at CCS Fundraising, an Irvine-based firm whose goal is to “partner with nonprofits for transformational change” (ccsfundraising.com). Angela’s project was […]
On Thursday, August 16, we welcomed Breakthrough students back to San Juan Capistrano after a tour of two national parks and one California state park. Eighteen rising tenth graders visited Joshua Tree, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and Monterey Bay through the generous programming of Birthright America, a foundation whose goal is to help young people explore […]
Breakthrough SJC welcomes our newest AmeriCorps VISTAs, Linda Lazaro and Emma Lee. Linda will be serving as our Volunteer Coordinator, coordinating the high school tutoring and college mentoring programs. Linda was raised throughout LA County as the eldest of four sisters who are currently in elementary school. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine […]
Breakthrough SJC, an intensive six-week program, guides students during the summer through academic classes in order to prepare for the upcoming school year. Students arrive ready to learn every morning and are immediately greeted with a cheerful and passionate group of teachers. Every week, students are expected to attentively take notes and complete assigned homework. […]
Breakthrough congratulated 26 seniors for their determination and commitment to completing the 6-year Breakthrough program and wished them well as they embark onto college on June 14. 100% of seniors will be enrolling into college for the 2018-2019 school year, with one enlisting into the military. The event was attended by current Breakthrough high school […]
This summer, Breakthrough SJC will enter its thirteenth summer school program, and this coming year will mark exciting changes for the program. During the 2017-2018 school year, we launched a new, multi-year strategic plan, focused on three priorities over the next five years: Support students through college graduation. Serve more students. Create institutional sustainability. Support […]
As we near the end of the 2017-2018 school year, Breakthrough is excited to announce two important transitions. Current Director Victor Cota will be moving into the role of Director of Equity and Inclusion at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. Current Assistant Director Alex Serna will step into the role of Director of Breakthrough San Juan […]
Breakthrough’s College Mentor Program Induction Ceremony was held at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School on May 2nd. In this ceremony we honor the hard work that seniors and their mentors in the College Mentor Program (CMP) dedicated to the college application process over the course of the 2017-2018 school year. At the end of the ceremony, […]