The University of San Diego just lately hosted a robust gathering of High Tech High’s high-achieving juniors. Roughly 40 Excessive Tech Elevate students — college students from throughout all HTH highschool campuses who come from first-generation, low-income, and traditionally marginalized backgrounds — got here collectively for a day rooted in connection, confidence, and school readiness.
Guided by the slogan, “Larger schooling requires larger expectations,” the annual Elevate occasion offered college students with a singular alternative to satisfy one-on-one with admissions representatives from eight main schools and universities. On this small, intimate setting, college students weren’t simply amassing brochures — they had been constructing relationships.
“It was so joyful to see the scholars expertise what Elevate is really about,” stated Chris White, govt director of school counseling. “These students had been capable of interact deeply with school reps who will stroll away realizing their names.”
The day additionally included an alumni panel that includes six former HTH Elevate students, now flourishing in school. Their tales — of perseverance, self-discovery, and progress — supplied each steerage and inspiration to the subsequent era.
Because the HTH community continues to develop, Elevate stands as a testomony to what’s attainable when excessive expectations are paired with high-impact help — placing college students in one of the best place to thrive in larger schooling and past.
College students mirrored on the expertise with gratitude and newfound motivation.
“At this time, I realized a lot extra about school and what the trail can appear to be for college kids like me. It was actually highly effective to listen to from college students who got here from comparable backgrounds—low-income and first-generation—and to see how they discovered help and success,” stated Yuliana Cibrian, a junior at Excessive Tech Excessive Worldwide.
“For me, coming from a low-income household, it means all the things to know that I nonetheless have alternatives by scholarships, packages, grants, and FAFSA. That help helps me imagine I can get to the place I wish to be. I’m excited for what’s forward.”
King Well-known California, a junior from Excessive Tech Excessive Chula Vista, stated the chance for progress in school resonated for him on the convention.
“It confirmed me that simply because I might need some disadvantages in sure points, it doesn’t depend me out or put me behind anybody else,” he stated. “I realized rather a lot about schools, monetary assist, and the completely different alternatives I can take. Speaking to school reps one-on-one made it really feel actual — like school isn’t some fantasy. It’s really a chance for me, and I’m very pleased with that.”
Along with school publicity occasions like Elevate, HTH college students even have entry to college-level coursework by a rising partnership with USD.
Excessive Tech Excessive has partnered with the college to supply college students an thrilling alternative to earn school credit score and expertise college life, for gratis, by USD’s Pre-Collegiate Pathways Program.
Greater than only a dual-enrollment alternative, this system takes a holistic strategy to school preparation. HTH college students take precise programs on the USD campus whereas additionally collaborating in workshops and occasions designed to demystify the school expertise and help them on their journey towards larger schooling.
“We actually wish to open USD as much as college students who historically haven’t been capable of attend locations like USD,” stated Dr. David Miller, a USD Historical past professor who helps lead this system. “One thing the pre-collegiate program can do is assist college students understand that USD is a spot for them — that they match right here and see individuals who they acknowledge.”
All bills — tuition, books, and parking — are absolutely lined. As a first-generation-serving, Hispanic-serving Establishment, USD’s objective is to construct significant pathways for college kids from the San Diego area, significantly those that could not have seen themselves at a college earlier than.
Miller places it finest: “It’s value enrolling as a result of you will get, for gratis, the school expertise, school credit score, and an actual introduction to the College of San Diego. College students who take part in these kind of packages go into school extra ready, stronger, and extra assured — they’re finally going to be extra profitable down the street.”
Anthony Millican is a member of the Excessive Tech Excessive board of trustees.
