Mission Scholars

Thank you to Sonos for hosting Mission Scholars’ 5th Annual Leaders in Transition (LIT) Kickoff as we launched our newest graduating class into higher education!

The evening was filled with inspiration, reflection, and big dreams as Scholars created vision boards, explored the Sonos office, connected with mentors, and began envisioning the careers and lives they want to build.

For many of our students, this was their first time stepping into a corporate workplace. Experiences like these help expand what’s possible. As one Scholar shared, “I never saw myself in spaces like this.” Yesterday changed that.

We’re incredibly grateful to the Sonos team for opening your doors, investing in our students, and reminding them that their futures can be as big as they imagine. Here’s to the Class of 2026 as they take their next steps toward college and beyond! 🎓✨

WE MET THE MATCH!!! 💥

Because of this incredible community, Mission Scholars officially met (and exceeded!) the $75,000 Glory Days matching grant challenge, raising over $170,000!

From donors to community members to students who literally flew in from across the country to share their journeys and the Mission Scholars impact on their lives -  this community showed UP 🤍 Huge shout out of gratitude to Mission Scholars Event Co-Chairs, Event hosts, and the Mission Scholars Development Committee for all their hard work in making our annual fundraiser a smashing success!

Still smiling from a night full of joy, connection, and belief in what’s possible for our students. Glory Days 2026, you were iconic!

Congratulations to the Mission Scholars Class of 2026! Today marks the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and determination. These colleges are incredibly lucky to welcome such talented, driven, and inspiring students onto their campuses. Your journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make. Oh, the places you’ll go 🌎💫

At Wendy’s NYU graduation ceremony, she placed her graduation gown on her mom as a way to honor the sacrifices her parents made so she could be where she is today. The emotion on her face says it all 😭

As our students walk across graduation stages across the country, we honor the parents behind the scenes, the pillars of strength, the quiet supporters, and the true heartbeat behind all their success.

To the parents: this degree belongs to you, too 🎓 💙

What do the only 2 recipients of the prestigious $50,000 Edison International Scholarship have in common? They are both Mission Scholars! We are so excited to share that Shelby from Santa Barbara High and David from Carpinteria High were the only 2 seniors in our entire county who received this incredible scholarship that will make their big dreams of pursuing higher education now possible! 

David and Shelby applied to the scholarship as part of their Mission Scholars scholarship plan and have spent the past several months completing their applications, writing essays, gathering letters of rec, recording powerful finalist videos, and above all, believing in themselves that they could get it. 

They both aspire to become civil engineers, inspired by their families and the communities and spaces that shaped them. Shelby’s quote, through tears after the emotional surprise announcement in her 3rd period math class, sums it up: “I just want to make a change in the world.” David and Shelby, you already are! 

Read more here: https://www.independent.com/2026/03/27/santa-barbara-county-high-school-seniors-surprised-with-50000-scholarships/

📸: SB Independent