Making Waves Education Foundation

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💡 Paid internships lead to more post-grad job offers and higher starting salaries according to research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Kaitlyn Endo, our career development manager, breaks down these and other benefits of internships for college students ➡ https://making-waves.org/resources/career-development/eight-reasons-to-do-an-internship-while-in-college/

More and more, we hear from our students and alums that they are looking for belonging, community, and mentorship – all of which support them in navigating college, career, and life.

So, what does belonging look like for Gen Z?

Moderated by Bay Area news anchor Stephanie Lin, this free webinar on September 25 brings together college students and recent grads, like Richard Amaechi and Adeline Leal, who will share about their experiences building community on their campuses, in their jobs, and in other areas of their lives.

Have a question for the panel? Register here: https://making-waves.org/news/foundation/panel-what-belonging-looks-like-gen-z-college-campus-workplace/

Let's hear it for Bryana Gastélum!

A Making Waves Academy alum and Wave-Maker in our college and career success program, Bryana graduated from Stanford University this past spring with a bachelor's degree in environmental systems engineering. Bryana is now pursuing a master's degree in civil engineering.

Congrats, Bryana! Keep making waves 🌊

“The Making Waves community is one that I’m grateful to have gotten the chance to be a part of and I know I can continue to be a part of post-grad," shared Elaine Fernandez, who graduated with degrees in managerial economics and sociology from UC Davis.

Elaine not only earned a spot in our Making Waves college and career success program for all four years of college, but she was was our first-ever Making Waves marketing and storytelling intern!

Her journey includes completing internships and externships with NielsenIQ, Project Destined, and Deloitte, which led to a full-time job offer from Deloitte. "Now, I feel ahead of the game and confident in the skills I have in my toolkit," Elaine shared.

Describing her Making Waves college coaches as having “the biggest impacts for me throughout my college career," Elaine said the support system helped her "navigate any obstacle that came my way.”

"I am excited to get to pay it forward and back as I continue to excel in my career trajectory," she shared.

🎉 Congratulations, Elaine!

Friday's Alumni Celebration was one for the books!

Alumni from our college and career success program celebrated their achievements with the Making Waves team.

Students who recently graduated from Berkeley, UC Davis, Contra Costa County, Cornell, and more shared their college journeys and gave shoutouts to those that helped them along the way!

We are so proud of you! Congrats Alumni!

🎓✨ Welcome to the Making Waves community! ✨🎓

This spring, 89 students joined Making Waves Education Foundation’s college and career success program, earning an incredible $2.3 million in need-based college scholarships for up to six years! 💰🌟

Our program pairs students with dedicated college coaches, financial coordinators, and career specialists to support them throughout their college journeys and into their careers.

This year, we're excited to expand our scholarship program to students across all nine San Francisco Bay Area counties.

Our new students come from 15 high schools and are heading to 30 colleges and universities across the U.S., including Howard, MIT, Harvard, Sacramento State, UCLA, and UC Santa Barbara.

Most of our new students are first-generation college students and people of color, driven by their determination to break barriers and pave the way for future generations.

Unlike many scholarships, Making Waves welcomes students from all academic majors with a minimum 2.0 GPA, recognizing that success in college comes from a clear sense of purpose and the right supports.

We are so proud of our new students and can't wait to see all they will achieve! 🎓

Join us in celebrating Gabriela Trujillo, who has just graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Sociology and Business! 🌟📚

Congratulations, Gabriela! 🎉 Your future is bright, and we're excited to see where your journey takes you next. 🚀

Congrats to Making Waves Academy Class of 2024!

Making Waves Academy now officially has 10 years of high school graduates. In this year’s Class of 2024, 100% of graduates are planning to attend college.

Students’ partnership with Making Waves doesn’t end at high school graduation. Most of this year’s Class of 2024 are earning yearly college scholarships as well as college, financial, and career coaching from the foundation. The Making Waves program specializes in guidance for first-generation college students throughout their college journey and into their careers so they can graduate with minimal to no debt, ready for their full-time career.

Welcome Wave-Makers!

Reflecting on her educational path, Imani shared, "College was always on the horizon, I guess. I knew I wanted to be out of state. I knew I wanted to study abroad." This early vision shaped her college experience, one that was uniquely marked by the challenges of COVID-19. "My experience is definitely unique given that it was COVID and quarantine. I had my first year of college kind of twice, which was very odd," she recalled. Despite these hurdles, Imani adapted and thrived, demonstrating remarkable resilience.

Imani's academic interests led her to explore the intersection of technology and humanities, a passion she pursued through research. She emphasized the importance of this integration, stating, "I'm really grateful for the research opportunities that helped me see the social aspects of technology. There does need to be more humanities within tech." Her work, particularly in AI and its social implications, showcases her commitment to making a positive impact on society.

Imani's journey is a testament to her adaptability and dedication. She has navigated major changes, from physics to computer science, and continually sought to bridge the gap between technology and humanity. Join us in congratulating Imani on her outstanding accomplishment and wishing her all the best for her bright future ahead! 🎉🎓

Put your hands together for Wave-Maker Fausthina Dalit, who graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor degree in Social Welfare!

We are so proud of you!

🎓️🎓️ Grad ALERT 🚨🚨

Congratulations to Wave-Maker Ruby Gonzalez, who is graduating from Sacramento State University with a degree in sociology!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽