What We Do

 Financial Support | Academic Support | Career Development | Holistic Support

Academic Support

Lack of English language mastery is the single most widely cited skill barrier among organizations working with low-wage workers. Regardless of their experience or abilities, ESL learners are often overlooked for competitively paid employment opportunities due to their limited English.

Adult immigrant students attending ESL college courses in the United States increase their confidence and are better prepared to help the next generation in their schooling. That’s why Upward Scholars works to empower adult immigrant students through education so they can gain better employment opportunities and become the catalysts for socioeconomic mobility in their families. Students who gain English language proficiency also have a multigenerational impact that increases access to resources for our students, their children and grandchildren, and the broader community.

Through its academic support programs, Upward Scholars engages the community in the academic growth and development of its students. For more information about any of our programs or if you wish to participate as a volunteer or even lead an academic workshop, contact Programs Director Diana Viscarra at diana@upwardscholars.org.  

ScholarUp

For adult immigrants from low-income backgrounds, being able to afford college or university often triggers anxiety, confusion, and fear. Many have limited or no knowledge about the financial aid resources available to them, so they believe attending college means choosing between education and survival. Since 2014, Upward Scholars has worked to change that by supporting students with external scholarships from foundations and other organizations through ScholarUp. Each month, ScholarUp informs students about available upcoming scholarships and offers volunteers to guide them one-on-one through the application process. 

Through ScholarUp, Upward Scholars has helped students receive scholarships from San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation, Catalino Tapia Scholarship Foundation (formerly known as Bay Area Gardeners Scholarship Foundation; pictured), Chicana/Latina Foundation, Providing Educational Opportunities for Women, Pursuit of Excellence, and many others. 

 
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Tutoring Program

In 2014, we created the Upward Scholars Tutoring Program to help students succeed in their community college classes. Students with tutors are more likely to stay in college, so Upward Scholars matches students with volunteer tutors to help them develop their study skills and excel in their homework assignments.

Tutors usually help students with intermediate and advanced community college noncredit ESL classes, equivalent to middle school or high school English classes. Tutors also provide support for students in subject-area classes, such as math, accounting, and computer science. Tutors and students connect virtually once a week for an hour during the semester.

 To become an Upward Scholars Tutor, complete the New Tutor Application.

 

TransferUp

While many Upward Scholars students enroll in community college with the sole goal of learning English, throughout their journeys, Upward Scholars pushes students to dream bigger academically. From completing their college ESL track to pursuing a vocational certificate, associate degree, and transferring to a four-year university, Upward Scholars challenges students to reach for the stars and supports them in the process. Specifically, TransferUp raises awareness among our community about the possibility of transferring to a four-year college, exposes students to peers who have transferred, and provides the support and skills needed to achieve it.

 

English Conversation Club

The Upward Scholars English Conversation Club is an ideal way to volunteer if you have limited time but are eager to engage with students one-on-one (normally done in a setting with other participants). During a Conversation Club event, students build self-confidence in their English conversation skills in this safe, friendly, and welcoming virtual environment. Conversations focus on topics that stimulate and inspire students’ educational journey, including their studies and goals.

Our next English Conversation Club will be in person at our office (1020 Marsh Road, Menlo Park) on Friday, April 5, 2024. Register here and invite your friends to join, too.

 

Graduation Celebration

In 2020, when none of the community colleges hosted graduations for students, Upward Scholars stepped up to celebrate our students virtually with our first-ever Graduation Celebration. The celebration is so popular among the Upward Scholars family that it is now an annual event.

In Spring 2023, Upward Scholars had a record-breaking 37 graduates from Berkeley City College, Cañada College, College of San Mateo, Merritt College, Mission College, and Skyline College.

Students earned certificates of achievement in areas like Accounting, Bilingualism and Biliteracy in English/Spanish, Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education, Medical Administrative Assistant, and Preparation for Academic Scholarship and Success (PASS). Thirteen students earned associate degrees in areas such as Business Administration, Communication Studies, Early Childhood Education, Ethnic Studies, Health Science, Kinesiology, and Social Work & Human Services.

Our fourth annual virtual Graduation Celebration was a great success! Thank you to our community for joining us in celebrating our students' remarkable achievements. And a huge congratulations to the Class of 2023!

If you were unable to attend or want to share the celebration with others, you can watch it here.

 
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English Conversation Partner Program

In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Upward Scholars quickly adapted its programming. Confined to their homes, Upward Scholars students had fewer opportunities to practice their English with fluent English speakers, and many students feared they would lose the progress they had made. Due to this need, in April, we launched the virtual English Conversation Partner Program so our students could continue practicing and improving their English skills while safely sheltering in place.

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The English Conversation Partner Program pairs a student with a fluent English-speaking volunteer so students can practice and improve their English conversation. English Conversation Partners meet virtually one-on-one once per week for 45 to 60 minutes or three times per week for 15 to 20 minutes each to help with English vocabulary and to gently correct English grammar and pronunciation. All sessions are by video conferencing or video chat (through GoogleMeet, Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp). Together, volunteers and students select the best platform and schedule for their virtual conversation. We recommend volunteers commit to working with their students through the end of the semester as much as possible.

At its launch, the English Conversation Partner Program had two student-volunteer pairs. As of spring 2021, there are thirty active pairs. To become an English Conversation Partner and help an Upward Scholars student practice their English skills, please complete the English Conversation Partner Form.

 

Peer Academic Facilitators

Students learn best from those who understand exactly what they are struggling with—their peers. Peer Academic Facilitators are paid former ESL students who are further along their academic journeys with key knowledge of essential academic skills for adult college students. They use their academic and tech experience and expertise to lead workshops that pay it forward to students who are at an earlier stage in their academic journeys. These workshops center around common topics such as Microsoft Word, MLA format, Canvas best-practices, and more.