A Note from Our CEO

Years ago, a mentor said – if you take one step toward your goal every day, you will see progress. Daily. One step forward. Those words continue to propel me forward as I choose to either break progress OR make progress. Today, at Opportunity Scholars, part of a Coach’s role is to help students make progress. Support can mean helping a student or family understand why a post-secondary education is important to their future goals, it can mean one of our coaches giving extra encouragement as the student heads off to an interview or teaching students how to advocate for themselves. And sometimes, support means having conversations with families when their students are veering completely off course. In each one of those conversations, our goal is the same - inspire hope, provide support and ensure the student knows they have the responsibility to make progress. Recently a family was in our office to discuss how the student could get back on track. We discussed what great performance looks like. We developed a plan with the student and family that included specific actions the student needed to complete and how Opportunity Scholars could support. We developed a timeline and we told the student they needed to take a step every single day to make progress.

If you were to ask me today, what is the key to Opportunity Scholars success, I would tell you it is the coaching (both for success and for improvement) that helps our students make progress and it’s progress that is life changing.

Wishing You Great Progress in 2024 ~ Rachel Schaefer, CEO

Watch Keren's story here.

Student Spotlight: Keren

Keren is currently a student at Shenandoah University.

What she says about Opportunity Scholars:

Opportunity Scholars relieved stress due to being 1st generation going to college and needing help.
She is thankful for her bi-lingual coach who can help her parents understand and provide her guidance.
"It was stressful not knowing how I was going to pay for college and further my education. Having support is very helpful because you know you are not alone."

George Mason University partners with Opportunity Scholars to create pathways for student success

The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding on Jan. 23 outlining plans to coordinate efforts and find ways to work together to help students earn meaningful postsecondary credentials in a high-demand economic sector.

“We have so many of the same goals and aspirations, so I’m very excited about the partnership and very excited about what we can do collaboratively,” said Rose Pascarell, Mason’s vice president for University Life.

Pictured Left, David Burge, Trishana Bowden, Stephen Cumbie, Fred Thompson and J. Knox Singleton. Seated, Rose Pascarell and Rachel Schaefer. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Read the press

release here:

GMU Article

Meet Marlenne Perez - Program Coach

As a program coach for Opportunity Scholars, I enjoy making connections and building long lasting relationships with not only the students we work with, but also their families! It's very rewarding to see the impact of our guidance on the family as a whole. It has been such a joyous experience to see how each student grows and evolves with continuous support. I really love the holistic aspect of Opportunity Scholars. We get to be a part of and celebrate each milestone of a student's success!

Our Coaches Provide Customized Support

We aim to elevate students' career readiness through our empowering students. Our coaches develop customized individualized development plans (IDP). These hands-on plans instill vital job-seeking skills, fostering a sense of empowerment and confidence. By bridging the gap between education and real-world expectations, our IDP's pave the way for success, equipping high school students with the tools needed to excel in their future professional endeavors.

We provide individual and group development plans, including these topics:

Get Employed!

We connect students to our businesses

partners

Workplace

Communication

Skills

Mock

Interviews

Specific to Your Career

Individualized Resume Help

SNEAK PEAK of Our Annual Report

The upcoming annual report will shine a spotlight on the Martinez Family, highlighting their impactful journey, compelling story and illustrating the integral role played by Opportunity Scholars.

Opportunity Scholars Attends Valley Health System's

Ready Set Grow Event

Our program is different. We help high school students choose an educational path, finance their education, and partner with businesses to help students get employed in their career field (sometimes even before they complete their education!)

Employment Opportunities

Opportunity Scholars currently has the following employment opportunities for student success minded people. Check out the Career section on our website: Opportunity Scholars