SteppingUP participants of our College Awareness Proggram (CAP) celebrated great achievement this year as most of them become the first in their families to graduate high school and all 22 of them prepare to attend college in the fall. Thanks to our skilled advisors, some will begin their college careers with scholarships. Others start the summer attending specialized programs to bolster their knowledge of chosen careers.

Our program, which ushers hundreds of teens from very low income households into college, this year includes 22 seniors. That’s more than any other in it five-year history. Pictured above with Program Coordinator, Maggie Muniz, left, and Program Director, Monica, rights, the students are off to schools including California State University Long Beach, California State University, Fullerton, Golden West College and Santa Ana College.

“This time of year is bittersweet,” said Monica Cardenas. “We make real relationships with these teens so it’s hard to let go. But we are really happy with our work when we know they are taking off for college, usually with a scholarship and even their courses all lined up.” Cardenas and Muniz are not planning vacations now. Instead they are scheduling summer activities and college tours for our graduates of the years to come.