ABOUT US
Who we are & our why ...
WHAT WE STAND FOR
RESILIENT
IMPACTFUL
STUDENTS IN
EDUCATION
OUR MISSION
"RISE is a community-led initiative that provides a unique perspective to high school students on the higher education landscape. Through RISE, our mission is to provide students in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District network of high schools with mentorship and a wealth of knowledge on available college resources. By providing these tools and invaluable experiences, we hope to encourage students to pursue a higher education and to promote students’ success through the college application process until their first successful year of college."
A common goal in mind.
Encourage and promote success for PVUSD high school students to pursue a higher education, particularly for juniors and seniors, by providing them with crucial and powerful information on the higher education space; and by linking participants with current college students and recent graduates to produce sustainable and effective mentorships.
OBJECTIVES
PVUSD students and RISE participants will…
GAIN RESOURCES:
Receive and retain functional and invaluable information that encompasses a plethora of aspects within the higher education landscape
INCLUSIVITY:
Encounter ample opportunities to be exposed to and discover inclusive & diverse practices that can be used in their professional, academic and personal lives
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MENTORSHIP:
Form valuable and grow sustainable long-term mentee-mentorship relationships through a safe and reliable process
Our Commitment
SAFE: Ensure the safety of students through our safe and reliable vetting process developed in conjunction with local youth organizations in the Watsonville area.
OUTREACH: Collaborate with local youth organizations and members of the PVUSD community (teachers, guidance counselors, etc) to create an effective communicative network that facilitates discussion and circulates programmatic resources.
EQUITABLE: Establish an inclusive framework to ensure programmatic reach for all PVUSD students.
FREE: All RISE events and programming are free of charge for all students to attend and participate in.
DISCLAIMERS:
*RISE programs are open to all high school students. For the mentorship program, we will place an emphasis on upper classmen if space is limited.
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*RISE works in collaboration with PVUSD.
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*Pajaro Valley Unified School District serves the towns of Watsonville, Pajaro, Aptos, etc. Public and Charter high schools within this district include Watsonville, Pajaro Valley, Aptos, Renaissance, and New School.