We’re thrilled to welcome our newest group of scholars to ScholarMatch’s college success program, which includes participants in our flagship Scholars Program and the launch of our brand-new LA Scholars Program. With a focus on peer mentorship and group sessions, the new LA Scholars Program, which is designed to specifically support first-generation college students from the LA area, aims to foster a strong sense of community among students who are the first in their families to attend college.

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Our LA Scholars Program model enabled us to expand the capacity of our college success program through collaborative group sessions, workshops, and peer support. Since personalized advising is one of ScholarMatch’s differentiators, scholars in both programs will benefit from individualized guidance from college advisors and access to financial support to alleviate the cost of college.

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The LA Scholars Program focuses on under-resourced Southeast LA communities, including Lynwood, Cudahy, Huntington Park, and South Gate, aiming to address the deep-seated systemic barriers to college access in the region, where only 4–7% of adults over 25 years old hold a bachelor’s degree. Our programming directly addresses the opportunity gap through intergenerational mentorship from trained volunteer college and career coaches. 

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Kicking Things off at the Welcome to the Family Ceremony

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Every year, we welcome our new scholars at our Welcome to the Family ceremony, where students have the opportunity to meet their peers and advisors and learn more about our college success program.

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Through group share-outs and virtual speed networking sessions, students shared their college plans and began forming peer connections. One scholar even discovered that their peer was attending the same college and orientation date, sparking plans to meet on campus this fall. 

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Why Peer Mentorship Matters

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First-generation students often face significant challenges in college that go beyond financial barriers. Navigating impostor syndrome, cultural barriers, and other campus expectations can be overwhelming, especially when away from home. Through peer mentorship, scholars find support while also building community with other students going through similar struggles.

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According to a 2024 systematic review published in the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, peer mentoring programs consistently improve academic performance, increase retention rates, and enhance student well-being across diverse college settings. Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that students paired with a mentor were 14 percent more likely to stay in college and 13 percent more likely to graduate within four years. 

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Meet Our New Scholars

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We’re truly excited to introduce the new scholars beginning their college journeys with ScholarMatch this year! As first-generation college students, they’re breaking barriers and opening doors for generations to come. It’s our privilege to support them, and we’ll be rooting for them every step of the way.

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Join Us in Supporting First-Generation Success

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None of this would be possible without the support of our scholarship partners and other longtime supporters who come together to fund our programs and help make college possible for first-generation students.

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‍We thank the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Adobe, the Ballmer Group, Local 2/Hospitality Industry Child & Elder Care Plan, 826 Valencia, the Bon Vivants, Isabel Allende Foundation, Leonetti & O’Connell Family Foundation, Randie Bencanann, Rosean Torres, O’Melveny & Myers, Swig Family Foundation, Someland Foundation, deWilde Family Foundation, Smart Cookie, and the Leung family for their continued support and belief in our mission.

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If you are passionate about educational equity and student success, we would love to hear from you. We’re actively seeking community partners, corporate sponsors, and philanthropic allies to help us continue growing and sustaining our programs for more first-generation students. Contact us at generosity@scholarmatch.org or fill out our interest form on our website.