Next Generation Scholars (NGS)

Introducing Raffle Prizes at Gala Light!? Thanks to the support of local businesses across the Bay Area, we are thrilled to offer exciting raffle prizes at our gala event.? One of our raffle prizes will be a "Day in The Bay", featuring 2 tickets to The Exploratorium, a meal at the iconic Perry's Restaurant, and four concert tickets to the SF Jazz Center. Catch all this and more at Gala Light. Get your tickets today: https://lnkd.in/gnXHTPEH

#FlashbackFriday to our relay race at our Summer Program! Homerooms faced off in a thrilling obstacle course challenge to see who could finish fastest...and win boba! The course featured fun tasks like eating a cookie off your face, scoring in a cornhole, and juggling a soccer ball. Have you applied to this year's Summer Program yet? Head to our website and find the application at top of the page. Deadline is May 1st.

"NGS has allowed me to have a series of ‘firsts’. I have been able to experience milestones in my life because of the trajectory NGS put me on. I am the first in my family to graduate from college, earn a Master’s degree, venture outside of California, and to purchase a home.” - Vincent Alvarez, NGS Class of 2009 We are so excited to welcome Vincent back as our keynote speaker at Gala Light on April 27th. Meet Vincent and more of our brilliant Scholars at our Gala Light event, and witness how they are illuminating & elevating their futures! Get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gnXHTPEH

We’re thrilled to welcome Vincent Alvarez , NGS Class of 2009, as our keynote speaker for Gala Light on April 27th! ???? Vincent’s journey embodies a true NGS success story: defying the odds as the first in his family to attend a four-year university, forever transforming his future. Vincent, the youngest of five children, grew up facing financial hardship. Throughout middle and high school, he experienced housing instability, all while staying committed to his education. Though he remained academically strong, he lacked the guidance and support needed to navigate the college process—until he found NGS, which played a pivotal role in shaping his path forward. With NGS’s help, Vincent graduated high school, earned his bachelor’s from USC, and later joined Teach for America, teaching in Milwaukee while earning his master’s degree. For over a decade, he has paid it forward, creating education and career pathways for diverse students. Now based in Chicago with his wife and daughter, he serves as Director of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning Programs at the City Colleges of Chicago. Join us at Gala Light to meet Vincent and more of our brilliant Scholars, and witness how they’re illuminating & elevating their futures! Get your tickets today: https://lnkd.in/gnXHTPEH

One of the values we instill in our Scholars is the importance of community and connection. One of our alum, Carlos, reflects on the value of staying connected, both within his family, and in the relationships he builds personally and professionally. At Next Generation Scholars, building community and investing in relationships is a core value we pass on to our Scholars. By caring for each other, we can learn, heal, and uplift together. Don't forget to reach out to someone today. A simple 'hello' makes a world of a difference!

We want to send a special thank you to Marin Charitable for investing in our Summer 2025 Program! Your support will help us feed our elementary, middle, and high school Scholars this summer. Thank you for helping us nourish their minds and their bellies so they can be set up to learn at full capacity. ????????

? We are thrilled to host our first ever Gala on April 27th! ? At the event, we invite you to learn more about the impact our work makes, especially with our Family Services Program. Through this program, we support families with workshops on topics such as computer literacy, child development, and legal services, helping NGS parents create a supportive home for college-bound students at home. In 2024, we proudly served 575 family members. Join us on April 27th to learn more about the impact we make to ILLUMINATE & ELEVATE our Scholars and their families: https://lnkd.in/gnXHTPEH

This #WomensHistoryMonth, we're sharing this video of our alumni Alondra and Vanessa (both making history as the first in their family to go to college) by sharing wisdom they would give to their younger selves. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Curiosity = Growth ? At NGS, we empower our Scholars to embrace every learning opportunity. Beyond academic support, we foster a growth mindset that enriches both their personal and professional development. We equip them with the confidence to tackle challenges with optimism and resilience! ?? #personaldevelopment #personalgrowth #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #firstgenerationcollegestudents #collegebound #firstgenerationscholars

?? College dreams in the making! ?? Our middle schoolers took a big step toward their futures with a visit to UC Berkeley, exploring what’s possible for first-generation scholars. Joined by parent chaperones and middle school team, they walked the iconic campus, engaged with college students, and envisioned themselves as future Golden Bears. ?????? At Next Generation Scholars, we know that early exposure to higher education is key to empowering under-resourced students. This visit wasn’t just about seeing a campus—it was about sparking ambition, building confidence, and reinforcing that college is for THEM.