Rainier Scholars: A Community Investment

Rainier Scholars: A Community Investment

Overview About Rainier Scholars Mission The Need Who We Serve What Makes Us Unique The Program Partnership Opportunities Financial Support through Sponsorship Internships Employee Engagement Full-time Employment As our students emerge with college degrees, the likelihood that the next generation will take a step up the economic, professional and educational ladder multiplies ten-fold, which benefits all of society in the process. Sarah Smith, Executive Director

Mission Rainier Scholars cultivates the academic potential and leadership skills of hard-working low-income students of color. By creating access to transformative educational opportunities and providing comprehensive support to scholars and families, we increase college graduation rates and empower new generations of leaders.

The Need for Rainier Scholars Higher education is a critical path to opportunity, yet the statistics are sobering: In Washington State, only 51% of all high school graduates go to college, ranking us 46 th in the US Nationally, across all incomes and races, just 56% of people who begin college actually complete college. Just 12-16% of low-income Black and Latino high school students make it to and through college, earning four year college degrees.

The Need for Rainier Scholars Embedded in our work is an inherent belief that a college degree provides critical training for and access to full participation in the workforce and as leaders and citizens in our community. A college degree greatly increases an individual s chance at economic self-sufficiency creating a ripple effect felt by generations to come.

Who We Serve We now have 550 scholars in 13 cohorts, with a new class of 60-65 students added each year from three school districts. We serve African-American, Hispanic/Latino, first generation Asian and Native American students who are most underrepresented on college campuses and have the greatest number of barriers to achieving a college education: 85% are from families who qualify as low-income 90% are from households without a four-year college degree

What Makes Us Unique Holistic 11-year program starting early in 6 th grade through college graduation Focus on academic and leadership skills Counseling and personalized support for scholars and families throughout their journey Comprehensive internship program for high school and college scholars Career networking opportunities throughout college

The Program

Academic Enrichment Scholars accrue over 1,000 hours immersed in 14-month academic curriculum, including Science, Math, Literature/Writing and History Develop core learning skills for academic success: time management, organization, self-advocacy, accountability, collaborative learning and risk-taking Earn placement to college prep settings in public and private schools In fifth grade I was accepted to Rainier Scholars. I entered a community of bright, inquisitive individuals who shared my desire to use education as a pathway. As a result of the rigorous academics, I learned almost anything is possible with focus and perseverance." - Raphael Diallo, Cohort II, Wesleyan University, Class of 2014

Academic Counseling & Support Through one-on-one mentoring and support, we help scholars: Acculturate to new college preparatory settings Access summer learning experiences and service learning programs Further increase skills for academic success Maintain high levels of academic achievement as measured through GPA and college readiness standards Draw on the power of the peer cohort, through regular social gatherings and excursions

Leadership Development We encourage scholars to think beyond high school graduation requirements, focusing instead on college admission criteria as they: Cultivate leadership skills through a series of retreats on effective and ethical leadership practices Increase skills for professional work place success through high school internships Take full advantage of Rainier Scholars extensive college counseling services Achieve 100% four-year college admission rate

College Support We provide 1:1 academic and personalized support in college, encouraging scholars to: Engage in campus community, leadership activities and study abroad opportunities Enhance career readiness skills, gain invaluable internship experience and build professional networks to prepare for life after college Graduate with a four-year college degree, along with a clear career plan or post-graduate opportunities "I would not be at a top tier college if not for the principles that this program instilled in me. I feel that I have a support network to rely on in Seattle. I am thankful for Rainier Scholars and the role you have had in forming the course of my life. - Ayda Ramadan, Cohort I, Dartmouth, Class of 2013

College Success Colleges and Universities that Rainier Scholars Attend As of fall 2014, 176 scholars were attending 73 colleges and universities in 22 states Allegheny College American University Art Institute of Seattle Bates College Boston University California Polytechnic State University Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Carroll College Claremont McKenna College Colgate University Columbia University Connecticut College Dartmouth College Davidson College Dominican University of California Drexel University Eastern Washington University Emory University Eugene Lang College - The New School Evergreen Community College Evergreen State College Full Sail University George Washington University Georgetown University Goucher College Harvard College Howard University Ithaca College Johns Hopkins University Kalamazoo College Kenyon College Lafayette College Loyola University New Orleans Macalester College Marist College Middlebury College Morehouse College New York University North Seattle Community College Occidental College Pacific Lutheran University Pitzer College Pomona College Pratt Institute Princeton University Santa Clara University Scripps College Seattle Pacific University Seattle University Seton Hall University Smith College St. John's University - Queens Campus St. Olaf College Stanford University Syracuse University Tufts University Union College United States Military Academy at West Point University of Arizona University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Southern California University of Washington (Honors Program) Washington State University (Honors College) Wellesley College Western Washington University Whitman College Williams College Yale University

The Model Works High Success Rate for Rainier Scholars Earning Placement in College Prep Environments 95% College Admission for First Six Cohorts 100% Matriculation to Four-year Colleges 96% High School and College Internships To Date 300+ On Track to Graduate within Five Years 90% First in Family To Earn Four-year College Degree 90% Rainier Scholars has brought out the best in me as a student and a person. It has helped me define myself. Paloma Contreras, Cohort III, Columbia University, Class of 2015

Partnership Opportunities Financial Support as an Annual Luncheon Sponsor: April 22, 2015 at the Seattle Sheraton Sponsorship levels beginning at $3,500 Presence in front of 1,000+ business and community leaders Additional Partnership Opportunities: Internships Employee Engagement, e.g., College- Career Connections Full-time Employment

Sponsorship Levels

Thank you! Zander Doroski Chair, Board of Trustees Board of Trustees (206) 618-4792 zander@doroski.net Bethany Furubayashi Development Officer, Corporate Giving (206) 407-2181 bfurubayashi@rainierscholars.org Sarah Smith Executive Director (206) 407-2143 sarahsmith@rainierscholars.org