First Gen Scholars

Let’s put up that “#1” for our community champions! On Tuesday, November 19, I would love to invite YOU to celebrate and connect with our First Gen Scholars. Thanks to my good friends at Friends of Friends x Wavy Burgers in National City, 100% of proceeds go directly to our little nonprofit! Tickets are FREE, but limited to just 100 seats—secure yours now and be part of a powerful community-driven evening. They are usually closed on Tuesdays, but the amazing owners of this community gem (Brandon and Marco) have generously opened their doors and their hearts to make this event happen! Friends of Friends x Wavy Burger is a cafe, restaurant and vinyl listening bar that reflects the love and appreciation they have for the community. Menu items include beverages (caffeinated, non-caffeinated, and alcoholic) and food items such as burgers and tater tots (my personal favorite is the Wavy Bao- which is their signature burger stuffed into a giant bao bun- trust, it’s so good) And did I mention…they will be introducing a menu item that evening (designed and crafted with some of our First Gen Scholars) where 100% of the sales from that night and BEYOND will also benefit 1GS! Don’t miss this chance to support, celebrate, and inspire. Click on the link to register and bring your family, friends and kiddos and spend next Tuesday with us! https://lnkd.in/gEzkDS7z If you cannot make it in person, there is also an option to donate ?? #FirstGenScholars #FirstGenFundraiser #CommunityImpact #TheFutureIsFirstGen or

November 8 is National First Gen Day, and we recognize those courageously applying to college and first gens currently in college continuing as trailblazers on campus. Today’s celebration originates from the passing of the Higher Education Act in November 8, 1965, opening pathways to higher education for countless low-income and first generation students. Today, we encourage institutions and communities to use National First Gen Day to highlight the unique journey first gens face, the barriers they overcome, and the dreams they pursue not only for themselves but for their families and communities. In light of the election and current political landscape, as first gens it may feel feel isolating trying to acclimate in a system that was not designed for us to succeed. There is already talk about less funding for financial aid and federal funding for items such as work study. Despite the election results, first gens continue to persevere, reshaping what opportunity and achievement look like. Do not forget that being highly educated First Gen Scholars is an act of resistance. While it requires immense courage, resilience, and sacrifice, please remember to protect your energy and lead with making your happiness a priority. At times when the burden of the social, emotional and financiall challenges are overwhelming, just know we at First Gen Scholars are here for you and are holding space for you. Today and every day, we honor your journey and celebrate you. Continue to be the authors of your own narrative and shape a future where your story is honored and celebrated. You are the first, but you won’t be the last. #FirstGenScholars #NationalFirstGenDay

5 years ago, I took a chance to rewrite my story. While getting students into college was something I took great pride in, helping them graduate and obtain thriving careers was the missing piece. I created First Gen Scholars because I believe there is more that can be done to help make this happen. 5 years ago, students from Southwest High took a chance on our program. They had no idea what First Gen was, but they did recognize the opportunity. Reaching for opportunity is a common thread with all those who are first generation. In their belief of the program, they started to believe that their story matters and is worthy of being told. In return, they shared our program with others, and we have gone from serving 26 students to now serving hundreds of Scholars each year. This year, for our 5th birthday, we hope you would consider supporting the journey of hundreds who are among the first in their family to go to college. Some programs can say 100% of their students can get into college, but can you think of any nonprofit where 8 out of every 10 students are on track to graduate with no debt? We can think of one. ?? Currently we have over 750 Scholar alumni from San Diego currently attending every Ivy Leage school, Stanford University Caltech Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the UCs, most on full rides- including 116 at UCSD with 2/3 receiving the Chancellors Scholarship and University of San Diego AnchorSTEM Scholars. Since we have started, we have more QuestBridge matches, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Scholars, The Coca-Cola Company Scholars, and Jack Kent Cooke Foundation recipients than any other local nonprofits. We are grateful to receive continued funding for our summer programs for students at San Diego Unified School District and Sweetwater Union High School District We have had the honor and privilege to start partnerships with San Diego Gas & Electric LPL Financial Pfizer U.S. Bank and Deloitte . And we are just five years old. What can happen in the next five? Well, with your help, we are excited to help write the next chapter in our story. Please subscribe to our newsletter as we launch our fundraising campaign starting on November 8, which is #NationalFirstGenDay. https://eepurl.com/gGUUl5 If you are a local company, we are looking for you. In addition to the Scholars we serve, Scholars have started 30 First Gen Clubs in high schools from San Marcos to San Ysidro - helping create a college going culture on their respective campuses for an ADDITIONAL 1000+ local students. The talent has always been there, we are just serving as the conduit to reach their dreams. Thank you for this journey, and a special shout out to the First Gen alumni, our current Scholars, mentors, interns, and especially our First Gen Dream Team for everything. Happy 5th Birthday to us! #FirstGenScholars #FirstGenSuccess #FirstFiveNextFive #FirstGenCelebrationMonth #TheFutureIsFirstGen

Last Friday, Villa Manila hosted their first “Taste the Tradition” event to benefit our little nonprofit. For Filipino American History Month, as the founder and Executive Director of First Gen Scholars, it was an honor to speak on behalf of the organization to the amazing group of friends, family and community members to support the cause and celebrate with one another. In a true kamayan style, banana leaves covered the table and local chefs contributed their time and talents to craft special menu items for the event. Thank you Eric Manuel of Pizza Kaiju, Brandon Keeper and Marco Laguna of Wavy Burgers and Friends of Friends, Ria Camanyag of Villa Manila and Justin Gaspar of Its Bread and Butter for creating not a just a feast, but a feast for the soul as well! Each table was full of smiles, laughter, stories told and memories made. Thank you to Allan Manzano and Ron Padua from Dynamo Design Group (DDG) who showcased a poster initiative comprised of artists from around the worldw using the theme of “BELONGING,” and the talented Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts and Education Center who set the mood with a wonderful rondalla ensemble and incredible traditional Filipino dances. A special shout out to James Camanyag from Villa Manila Restaurant and Dr. Kirin Amiling Macapugay for being the community connector for all of us and being the MC of the event. It was my first time to have my parents and their friends at a First Gen event, and I’m so happy to do it while celebrating our culture. To spend that time with some cherished friends and my wife also meant so much to me. A highlight was also having our scholars Nathan and Alexis from Seeetwater High volunteer for the event and share their story with those in attendance. Let’s do this again soon! #FirstGenScholars #FirstGenFundraiser #FilipinoAmericanHistoryMonth #Gratitude #Kamayan #MasarapKumain #BusogNaBusog

Let’s put up that “#1” for our 22 First Gen QB Finalists!! We are proud to share that the first time ever, we have more than 20 Finalists in one year from San Diego!!! QuestBridge National College Match is an amazing opportunity for high-achieving, low-income students to receive a full-ride scholarship to colleges such as Stanford, Yale, MIT and USC. On December 1, some of the finalists are ‘matched’ with a partner college, covering tuition, room, and board for four years. It’s a life-changing chance that removes the financial barrier for students who may not otherwise afford college….in less than 5 weeks some of our Scholars will know what dream school they are attending. This was the toughest year ever for WB, because of the 25K QuestBridge applicants, only 29% were selected as finalists. To our Scholars: we cannot be more proud of you for taking advantage of this full scholarship. For those who applied and were not selected, endless nights of working on and revising essays will be worth it because now you have a foundation of essays that showcase your story, goals, achievements and dreams. They can serve you well for the Common App, Coalition App, UC PIQs and scholarships. The seeds you have planted in your writing will bloom into other opportunities, just keep maintaining and we are here to support you! There were 1GS alumni, mentors, peers and staff who poured their heart and soul into helping make this happen. Please know our Class of ‘23 would not be at this point with your words of encouragement, essay comments and guidance. Get ready, because our Scholars are bouttamakeanameforthemselves!! #FirstGenScholars #FirstGenFullRides #FirstGenQuesties #QuestBridgeNationalCillegeMatch #TheFutureIsFirstGen

In 2020, when the world was in quarantine, First Gen Scholars pivoted online to support 78 Class of 2021 students. One of them, Anaya, was our first Scholar from Sweetwater Union High School student. Today I found out from her mom that Anaya will be graduating from Arizona State University this year and will be looking into grad programs. Today was also the Magkaisa Conference, where students throughout Sweetwater Union High School District came together in the spirit of kapwa and learned from workshops to inspire and elevate the FilipinX community. Pictured is one led by our very own Arnold Lopez and Chris Feliciano, M.A. At Sweetwater High, 1GS has also elevated from one student online to a full-fledged First Gen Club, where weekly meetings have been moved to their THEATER because there are so many students! Anaya’s mom? She’s been working at SUHI as the Co-coordinator of the Health Academy and has been encouraging students to join our program. This is just the example of the impact of our program. It takes one Scholar to “Be the First,” but that moment can lead to so much momentum at a school. Currently, there are 29 active First Gen Clubs all within San Diego County…2 years ago we had one (!!) If you have a student who is interested in our program, and maybe even creating a First Gen Club at their school, tag them or send us a DM. #FirstGenScholars #FirstGenClub #FromAMomentToMomentum #MagkaisaConference #BeTheFirst #FirstGenRedDevils #TheFutureIsFirstGen

Put up that #1 for our Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Semifinalists!! Over 100K applicants and only 1.27%(!!) of them were selected. Did you know that the only finalists selected south of the 8 freeway attend schools in Sweetwater Union High School District? Did you know that those students are also First Gen Scholars? As they move onward in this process let’s celebrate their progress and also acknowledge the caliber of leaders that come from the South Bay. Congratulations Scholars and sending our best on becoming finalists. #FirstGenScholars #CocaColaScholars #1.27%OMG #FirstGenScholarships #SweetwaterUnionHighSchoolDistrict #DontSleepOnTheSouthBay #TheFutureIsFirstGen