MAPPING YOUR JOURNEY TO POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS

The YMCA Achievers program is a national college readiness program designed to help teens through academic support, career exploration, and mentoring. The Achievers program encourages teens to raise their academic standards and explore diverse college & career options. Teens also develop a positive sense of self, build character, and meet and interact with professionals who serve as role models to inspire them to greater heights. Meetings times, dates, and locations are determined by the school and their advisors.

OUR MISSION

The central purpose of the Y Achievers Program is to help teens establish and pursue high educational and career goals resulting in high school graduation and acceptance to an institution of higher learning or successful adoption of a vocation.

We target schools that have low graduation rates, few college and career readiness resources, and a large percentage of low-SES students. It is crucial that students, particularly in low-income areas, start thinking about their post-secondary options as early as possible so they can enter high school focused on long-term goals.

HOW TO ENROLL

Each teen enrolled in the Y Achievers program through a school affiliation will receive instruction from the Overcoming Obstacles and/or Success Bound curriculum and attend two one-hour sessions per week for 31weeks which may be during the school day in their career pathways courses. The Overcoming Obstacles and Success Bound curriculum teaches students the skills they need to achieve success. Each week, there are different lessons covering items such as interview techniques, conflict resolution, developing financial responsibility, visiting colleges, resume writing, completing financial aid applications, and stress management.

Students enrolled in Y Achievers whose school does not offer a club or career pathways class can use the program as an added resource. Students can choose what activities and programming they wish to attend.

All students will have the opportunity to attend events such as college fairs, college tours, college games, and teen summits organized by the Y. These events will give students the opportunity to listen to guest speakers with experience on a variety of subjects.

Students registered for Y Achievers automatically gain access to opportunities with all of our partnering organizations and our monthly newsletter filled with information on upcoming events, scholarships, and even monthly raffles!

The program cost is FREE (some special events may require transportation & lodging costs).

Click the button below to register your student:

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Spring College Tour - March 16th-20th, 2023 - More Information to come!

VOLUNTEER WITH Y ACHIEVERS

Y Achievers loves to provide quality events for our teens but we can't do it without our amazing volunteers. We are always looking for people wanting help out with these occasions. Please check back later for our 2022-23 Volunteer sign up form!

Must be 21+ years old to volunteer.

CONGRATS TO OUR 2022 YMCA COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!

During the month of January, students all across the metroplex applied for the YMCA College Scholarship which awards renewable scholarships of up to $3000 for four years. During February, the Y conducted 40 interviews to select 20 winners. After some very tough competition, we are proud to announce that 6 Y Achiever students were awarded this scholarship.

Congratulations to the following students on this accomplishment:

Bryan Chacon

Kennedie Phillips

Kassandra Zapata

Johnjuanna Fisher

Ana Saenz

Peace Erezi

Want to be a 2022-23 Y Ambassador? Review our requirements and keep an eye out for our application launching in late August!

Y-ACHIEVER AMBASSADOR INFORMATION

The Ambassadors program is a leadership opportunity for Y Achiever students entering into their senior year of high school. These students step up as role models among their peers. Students who are selected as Ambassadors should possess strong interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, a genuine interest in meeting new people, and a sense of pride for the Y Achievers program and its mission. Y Achiever Ambassadors represent the student voice at various events throughout the school year to visitors and prospective students.

CRITERIA

Ambassador must be going into their senior year of high school.

Candidate must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their time as an ambassador.

Candidate must have great attendance and provide documentation.

Candidates encouraged to have at least 20 volunteer hours by the time they apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Advisors will be sent a form to complete for the nomination of a student as an ambassador.

Once the nomination is received, the candidate will receive an invitation to complete an application via email.

After application submissions, these candidates will then be invited to an interview.

CONTACT US

Association Teen Engagement Director:

Yashi McGowan

OUR PARTNERS:

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