Student Success Story!
We are so proud of Access cohort, Djulia Sekariyongo-Koita , who is currently a freshman at UC Berkeley and has just been named CAPTAIN OF THE WOMEN'S SQUASH TEAM!
#superstar
Way to go DJ!
2020 Gala
Success!
A good time was had by all.
Paradise Point Resort was the place to be on January 24th

Over 300 Access Youth Academy friends & supporters gathered together to enjoy a fun-filled mission-focused evening which included dinner, live and silent auctions, and a unique opportunity to meet and have a personal conversation with a number of the Access alumni & current students. In keeping with tradition, the keynote speech was delivered by a recent Access graduate . This year we were graced with the exceptional and accomplished Tiffany Fung who spoke about how her involvement with Access changed the trajectory of her life and allowed her to reach previously unimaginable heights. Tiffany graduated from high school in 2014 and subsequently began her undergraduate career at UC Berkeley. She continued playing squash on the women’s squash team at Berkeley along with the other Access graduates and in 2018, graduated with a degree in molecular and cell biology with departmental honors. This was a huge milestone because she is first in her family to graduate from a four-year university. In that same year, she started her doctoral program in optometry at UC Berkeley. She is currently in her second year of optometry school and is seeing patients, under supervision, at the University Eye Center.
Thank you to Jessica Wayman Photography
for capturing all the fun on film for us!
If you click on the link you will need this download Pin: 6956
It's Test Time!
Juniors prepare to take SAT's
Over the past couple of months, Access juniors have been preparing to take the SAT test using the online test prep program, Winward Academy. The interactive online platform allows students to watch lessons, answer practice problems, and have their practice tests scored to they are able to see the areas in which they need improvement. Test date is March 14th!

Good luck to the juniors as they prepare for this important test.
Community Service Spotlight
In January, Access students volunteered at the Feeding San Diego (FSD) warehouse. Did you know that they supply food to 63,000 families in San Diego daily? Access youth date checked, integrity checked and sorted 1300 pounds of donated non-perishable goods in the Reclamation project! Reclamation products help supplement FSD’s programs like Mobile Marketplace and Mobile Pantries. It was a great afternoon spent contributing to the vision of a hunger-free and healthy San Diego!
Donor Spotlight!
Hope, inspiration and a path to success for students in Southeast San Diego
Access Youth Academy has received a $5.5 million grant from the City of San Diego’s Economic Development Department through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to help build our new educational and athletic facility in southeastern San Diego!

“Thanks to this major grant, we will be able to help hundreds more underserved youth reach their full potential and become leaders of tomorrow ,” said Renato Paiva, Access Youth Academy Executive Director. “We are focused on providing youth with a safe, supportive environment. The new building on Euclid Avenue will allow us to partner with many other middle schools and high schools in the region.”
Squash & Education Alliance
25th Anniversary Jubilee
On Saturday, January 18th, over 1,200 people gathered in the Grand Ballroom of New York City's Midtown Hilton to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Squash and Education Alliance network. More than 500 out-of-towners attended from across and outside of the country. Among the attendees were Access Youth Academy Executive Director - Renato Paiva, Greg Scherman - Access founder, Blair Sadler - Board President, and Reyna Pacheco & Hanna Balcha - Access Youth Academy alumni and now highly accomplished young women. It was an incredibly inspiring evening and the largest event in the history of the SEA network.