College Bound AZ

College Bound AZ, a nonprofit community resource, shares the journey to college with aspiring under-represented students through mentorship, guidance, and support resources for their advancement to a better future through education.

In 2009 a high school graduate destined for a university faced daunting challenges to achieve a successful transition to college. The student was the first in her economically disadvantaged family to apply for college. No one in her family was college educated, and her life until now was sheltered. Academically a high achiever, she was accepted into a college nearly 200 miles away. She needed assistance to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that would qualify her to receive federal, state and college-sponsored financial aid for college. Her anxiety about leaving home and fending for herself was nearly overwhelming. Her impoverished family was barely able to resource her for dorm life. There was no money for books. She faced a brand-new lifestyle that was complex and confusing. One result was overspending a meal card and creating a significant debt that prohibited her from starting her second semester. With no money to pay the debt, she would be forced to leave school. In the end, what could have ended disastrously was turned around by College Bound AZ.

This experience showed that economically disadvantaged students require an investment of resources to aspire to higher education. In 2010, a group of area business and civic leaders concerned about their community's low-income population, embarked on a mission to give talented and deserving young students from economically depressed families the motivation and support needed to graduate high school and go on to college. In September 2010, College Bound AZ launched its pilot program for six students at a local elementary school, adding a high school component in 2012. College Bound AZ's vision is to expand to support Arizona's goal of ensuring 60% of Arizonan's have a certificate or college degree to secure prosperity for its citizens and its future workforce.

Since its first high school program in 2012, College Bound AZ has over 2,000 low-income students get to college. Former low-income students return to their community to seek their first professional job, increasing their financial stability and the economic vitality of the community as College Bound AZ continues its mentorship throughout college to ensure student success.

RISE Scholars is a program for low-income high school seniors with academic ability that fast-tracks them problem-free to the local university. Students meet with their College Ambassador/Coach for eight 30-minute sessions to track their progress through the college admissions process, troubleshooting the college application and financial aid submission. The workshops also include information on budgets, financial literacy and resume writing, and students also take a college tour to ensure first year success. We partner with schools that do not have college counseling as part of the staff so that we may serve the low income populations at the high school. With the percentage of elementary and high school students on the Free or Reduced Lunch Program in the community just above 50%, every other student is low income without the resources at home or at school to help navigate a path to the future. College Bound AZ provides a desperately needed resource that is also part of an employment pipeline for businesses.

Fueling Minds with Heart is our program to assist our high school students and college students. Research shows 66% of community college students face food insecurity and that 13% are homeless. We partner with a local food bank and other non-profits to bring food and hygiene items to campuses where they can be distributed to students in need. Our goal is to help with college completion which will lead to professional-level employment and stability.

In 2024 we added a third program, Bright Paths, to better support students with autism. A Student Guide highlights considerations students with autism find helpful to more successfully navigate their unique journey through college. Bright Paths also includes a Disability Scholarship that eases the financial stress of college and helps ensure college completion.

Testimonials

Daniella Peinado's Story

RISE Scholar Daniella Peinado was unaware she could qualify for the Obama Scholars award from ASU for Fall 2019...