Onward 2 High School: Summer Institute Newsletter Week 3 Highlights

The premier middle school to high school bridge program

Summer Institute Week 3 Highlights

July 29, 2026

A Message from Nancy Portillo, Executive Director:

And That's a Wrap! Until Summer Institute 2027!

As Summer Institute 2026 comes to a close, our students, families, the O2HS team, and I are feeling a mix of pride, joy, excitement. To me, that means we did our job well and created an experience our students truly enjoyed. Our final week was filled with learning, collaboration, and student capstone projects.

Students and families heard from the Onward Scholars Directors about the program that includes scholarship, mentorship, and college access. The also heard from high school leadership teams about the many opportunities available to them. It was especially heartwarming to see students taking notes and recording these sessions as they began thinking proactively about their futures.

Be sure to explore this newsletter from start to finish! You'll see documentaries created by our student workers, learn more about the Onward Scholars Program, and find important information from our high school partners for families preparing for the high school journey.

One of my favorite moments this summer was meeting Jasmine Beltran, St. Matthias Class of 2005 and proud mother of Summer Institute 8th-grader, Evelyn. Jasmine shared, "She loves the program so much and has been inspired over the past three weeks. She wanted to attend the program at my alma mater, and now she's even more convinced that this will be her future high school." Together, we even took a stroll down memory lane and visited her old locker. It was a beautiful reminder of the lasting impact these experiences can have across generations.

And now, drumroll please...

Mark your calendars for Summer Institute 2027: July 6-23! Our Summer Institute 2027 Interest Form and School Presentation Request List are now open, so please help us spread the word and be among the first to sign up.

Have a wonderful school year and we'll see you next summer! Onward!

⚓🌊 Third Week of Discovery and Innovation

As Summer Institute 2026 came to a close, students spent their final week applying everything they had learned while preparing for the End of the Program Showcase and Capstone Day.

Through our Buoyancy & Balance challenge, student engineers explored how objects in water are influenced by forces such as buoyancy and gravity. Students designed, tested, and refined boats by controlling shape, weight distribution, and water displacement to improve stability and performance. As they experimented with different designs, they learned that successful engineering requires creativity, teamwork, perseverance, and continuous improvement.

Students also investigated the science behind Sea Sustenance, learning how food preservation has helped communities survive and thrive throughout history. They explored how factors such as moisture, acidity, and salt influence food preservation and even pickled their own cucumbers while learning the science behind the process.

As the week progressed, excitement grew as students prepared for Capstone Day, where they would showcase the projects, discoveries, and innovations they developed throughout the three-week program.

🎓 Looking Ahead: Onward Scholars and High School Leadership Presentations

During the final week, students and families participated in presentations led by the Onward Scholars Program team and leaders from our partner high schools. Families learned about tuition assistance, extracurricular activities, athletics, and academics, as well as what makes each school community special. Please see the links to our partner high schools in the section below to learn more about high school application timelines.

These presentations provided valuable guidance and helped families begin exploring the educational opportunities that lie ahead while reinforcing the importance of academic achievement, leadership, service, and long-term goal setting.

📣 Calling all 8th graders, Class of 2027!

Onward Scholars Program Application Timeline (Learn More)

September 1: Application Opens
January 20: Application Deadline
February: Semifinalist & Finalist Interviews (dates vary by site)
March 5: Decisions Emailed
March 12: Class of 2031: Program Commitment Deadline

🚀 Capstone Day:

Celebrating Growth, Innovation, and Community

The culmination of Summer Institute 2026 took place during our annual End of the Program Showcase and Capstone Day, where families, school leaders, community partners, and supporters gathered to celebrate student learning and achievement.

Students proudly presented their projects, reflected on challenges they overcame, and demonstrated the skills and knowledge they gained throughout the summer. Each student received a Certificate of Innovation recognizing their curiosity, creativity, perseverance, and commitment to learning.

We were honored to welcome Bishop Marc V. Trudeau, who joined students, families, and staff during Capstone Day. He learned about the impact of Summer Institute and celebrated the achievements of our students. His presence reflected the shared commitment of our Catholic school community to helping young people discover their talents, strengthen their confidence, and prepare for future success.

Capstone Day was more than a showcase of projects.

Over the past three weeks, students built more than cars, rockets, and boats. They built confidence. They formed new friendships. They developed problem-solving skills. They learned to persevere when things did not go as planned. Most importantly, they began to see themselves as innovators, leaders, and lifelong learners. It was a celebration of growth.

The projects may be finished, but the confidence, friendships, and memories created this summer will continue long after students return to school.

🎬 Watch our student-created Summer Institute 2026 documentaries!

🎉 Thank You for an Incredible Summer and Summer Institute 2027!

As we conclude Summer Institute 2026, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this experience possible.

Thank you to our students for embracing challenges, taking risks, asking questions, and bringing enthusiasm to every activity. Thank you to our families for entrusting us with your children and partnering with us throughout this journey. Thank you to our Summer Institute staff, OSP Program Assistants, parent volunteers, and the O2HS team, whose commitment and care helped create meaningful experiences for every student.

Finally, thank you to our partner school leaders, the Smet Foundation team, and our founders, John and Cindy Smet, for your support and belief in the potential of both our students and this program.

While Summer Institute 2026 has come to an end, the lessons learned, relationships built, and confidence gained over the past three weeks will continue to inspire our students for years to come.

Mark your calendars for Summer Institute 2027, July 6-23. We can't wait to welcome our next group of young innovators and leaders. ONWARD! 🚀

Are you a rising 7th grader or do you know an interested student? Fill out the Summer Institute 2027 Interest Form!

Elementary school principal/leadership? Request a 2027 Summer Institute presentation

Partner Schools

Thank You to Our Partner Schools

Thank you to our incredible host partner schools for helping make Summer Institute possible:

Bishop Mora Salesian High School*

Cathedral High School

Sacred Heart High School*

St. Anthony High School

St. Pius X–St. Matthias Academy

St. Mary's Academy

*Summer Institute programs will launch at Bishop Mora Salesian High School and Sacred Heart High School in 2027 following exciting campus renovations.