What We Do
Financial Support | Academic Support | Career Development | Holistic Support
Financial Support
Most Upward Scholars students have low-wage jobs making it nearly impossible to afford an education. To remove the barriers students face in pursuing higher education and careers, Upward Scholars' financial support encompasses paying for students’ college textbooks and other course materials, transportation, laptops and desktop computers, grocery gift cards, graduation regalia, and honor society membership fees.
Each and every Upward Scholars student benefits from at least one service under financial support—and most students benefit from several at once. Upward Scholars does not cover tuition because all of our students qualify for significant financial aid or are exempt from paying enrollment fees. For more information about our financial support and services, contact Programs Coordinator Alma Noriega at Alma@upwardscholars.org.
Textbooks & course materials
To ensure students have all of the necessary course materials to attend their college courses and succeed, Upward Scholars pays for college textbooks and shipping (during the pandemic), e-textbooks, disability technological tools, additional course supplies and special course fees—vocational program uniforms (e.g., baker jacket, cosmetologist apron and kits, skeletal models).
Transportation
Getting to and from college is an additional cost of pursuing a college education, so Upward Scholars covers parking permits for students who drive to campus and Clipper transit cards (e.g., SamTrans, CalTrain, & BART) for students who take public transit.
Laptops and desktop computers
In order for students to attend virtual classes or complete and upload assignments, Upward Scholars provides students with the technology to do so. Every single student who requests a laptop gets one, and we also distribute desktop computers, mice, keyboards, printers, external monitors, webcams, hotspots whenever they become available.
Healthy Scholars (Food Assistance)
Food insecurity is a huge issue throughout the Bay Area, and our students are among those afflicted. To help combat this, Upward Scholars began the Healthy Scholars Program, providing monthly grocery gift cards to students who need them most. In the past, we have also partnered with AnewVista to distribute hot meals and with Vegan Outreach to distribute vegan groceries to our community of students. Before the pandemic, when classes were in person, Upward Scholars provided on-campus food vouchers so students could enjoy a free meal on campus between classes.