New Year, New Name: Our Students Are Destined for College!

As we gear up for the new year, we’re excited to share that our college access program, which has guided thousands of first-generation students toward higher education over the past 13 years, is getting a new name: Destined for College!

Throughout the years, as ScholarMatch evolved from a crowdfunding scholarship platform to an organization offering wraparound services for first-generation college students, our brand also needed to reflect our growth and efforts to better serve students. This program name change is part of a multi-step approach to deepening our impact as we seek to increase our financial and programmatic resources to serve an even higher number of first-generation students.

“Our program’s proven track record has allowed us to secure impactful partnerships to expand our reach and serve students beyond our headquarters in San Francisco,” said Karla V. Salazar, ScholarMatch’s Executive Director. “The success of our program is a reflection of our students’ hard work combined with the dedication of hundreds of volunteer college coaches who guide them through the college application and financial aid process.”

“Thanks to collaborations with different organizations across the country, we were able to increase our student recruitment numbers threefold this year,” said Lisa Lopez, ScholarMatch’s Director of College Access.

While ScholarMatch receives national referrals to serve students nationwide, much of our focus remains on assisting the San Francisco Bay Area student population.

“We’re working on a more tailored approach to addressing students’ ever-evolving needs. So this year, we’re piloting a Virtual Drop-In Program offering support with high-demand topics, such as college essays and college list-building. We’re also supporting students and volunteers with navigating the Supreme Court decision on race-conscious admissions and preparing for the launch of the new FAFSA,” added Lopez.

“As we continue to expand our national footprint, we wanted to find a program name that exemplifies those we serve,” added Salazar. “While first-generation college students face many barriers in accessing higher education, we know all of them are truly destined for college, and ScholarMatch is honored to provide the one-on-one support that helps get them there.”

Other exciting changes on the horizon include a brand new website with improved tools and resources for students and volunteers launching in early 2024. Stay tuned for more ScholarMatch updates coming soon, and in the meantime, learn more about our program model and how you can join us in supporting first-generation college students at scholarmatch.org.