Greetings!

Welcome back!

I hope you’ve had an amazing summer spending time doing what you love and recharging your batteries. I made a lot of fun memories with family and friends, and I’m trying to squeeze in a few more days of summer fun while the gorgeous weather lasts.

We would love to have you join us for the annual YPIE Gala on Thursday, September 18th to celebrate YPIE students’ accomplishments and remarkable journeys to and through college. We are proudly honoring Ellen Cutler Levy and Arbor Rising for their longtime support for YPIE. We have a special rate ticket for volunteers! Learn more and purchase tickets at ypie.org/gala.

One bit of my summer reading was this Washington Post essay: “How Higher Education Failed America’s Poor” (here’s a PDF version). The author argues that a college degree still matters, but only if the system ensures equitable pathways and outcomes. The current structure disproportionately fails low-income students, making YPIE’s work so critical. Your efforts with our students directly tackle the inequities highlighted in the article by bridging the access gap, providing early exposure to colleges/careers, and advocating for pathways into high-return fields - thank you!

As summer comes to a close, our fall programs are ramping up. Please complete the 2025 Fall Essay Coaches survey if you plan to volunteer as an Essay Coach and/or Team Captain this fall. The season will run from September 25th through December 5th.

Thank you!

Stacy Winitt

Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships



UPCOMING EVENTS

FALL ESSAY COACH TRAINING

Fall Essay Coaches are required to attend one of the sessions listed below if you did not previously volunteer in the spring or summer. Please RSVP through the 2025 Fall Essay Coaches survey

September 10th, 6:00pm-7:00pm (via Zoom)

September 11th, 2:00pm-3:00pm (via Zoom)

September 16th, 11:00am-12:00pm (via Zoom)

SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY WORKSHOP

Sherry Vernon, Senior Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago, will lead a Supplemental Essays Workshop at the Yonkers College Zone (92 Main Street). All Essay Coaches and Team Captains are invited to attend. 

September 16th from 3:30-4:40pm (in person); please RSVP here.

YPIE ANNUAL GALA

• September 18, 2025 at 6:00pm
• The Barbara Walters Campus Center, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville
• Information and tickets at ypie.org/gala

Please see the YPIE Volunteer calendar at ypie.org/ypievolunteer



STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

YONKERS COLLEGE ZONE EVENTS

Here’s the Yonkers College Zone Newsletter that was shared with students and families last week.

GRADE 12 EVENTS

Please share these events with your Senior students. All events will take place at the YPIE Yonkers College Zone (92 Main Street):

YPIE Senior Kickoff - For all YPIE seniors & families (English and Spanish)

Dates: Tuesday, September 9th and Wednesday, September 10th

Time Slots: 5:30 - 6:15pm OR 6:45 - 7:30pm

Sign-up here!

YPIE Navigating Financial Aid Workshop - For YPIE families (English and Spanish)

Date: Thursday, September 25th

Time: 6:00 - 7:00pm

Sign-up here!

YPIE College Connections - For YPIE students only - this is an opportunity to connect with representatives from selective colleges!

Date: Monday, September 15th

Time: 3:30 - 5:30pm

Sign-up here!

VOLUNTEER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SCHOOL VISITS

The first day of school is Wednesday, September 3rd (2025-26 YPS calendar).  YPIE Volunteer school visits may resume on Monday, September 15th.  If you plan to visit your student in school in September, please email me and I’ll put you in touch with the correct staff member if you don’t know who to contact.

Yonkers Essay Coaches and Graduation Coaches can meet with students at school during their lunch/free periods.  Please read and adhere to the YPIE Volunteer School Visit Policy, schedule your visits on days when YPIE staff will be at the schools, and email them in advance to let them know your plans.

GRADUATION COACH REMINDERS 

If you and your Scholar took time off this summer, please plan to re-engage no later than September 8th.  You should be meeting at least once every 2 weeks (in person or phone/video call).  If you met with your Scholar over the summer and did not submit a Monthly Update Form, please do so at your earliest convenience.

ESSAY COACH REMINDERS

The Essay Writing Summer Season is heading towards the finish line!  Please read the email I sent for Week 10 for information about how to wrap up the season. Please complete the 2025 Fall Essay Coaches survey if you plan to volunteer for the fall season.

MEETING AT YPIE COLLEGE ZONE

If you plan to meet your student at the College Zone in Yonkers or Jersey City, please email me at least one business day in advance with the date, time, and name of your student. I’ll add your meeting to the calendar and confirm with you.



VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

YPIE Volunteer Handbook

Essay Coach Playbook

Graduation Coach Playbook

Thanks for reading all the way to the end!