Other News - Nuevo Amanecer Latino Children's Services

Renaissance Scholars Program Celebrates 10 Years

The Renaissance Scholars program is celebrating 10 years of providing much-needed stability, support and services for former foster youth to help ensure their success in college and in life.

College can be a daunting experience for anyone, but for students who lack the emotional and financial support of loving family, it can be overwhelming.

“it’s very tough to make the transition to college when you don’t have parents or family members who can be there when you want to share your successes or need help with challenges such as unforeseen medical expenses, summer housing or sometimes food,” says Sara Gomez, coordinator of the Renaissance Scholars program.

She should know. Gomez was one of those students. She was feeling lost and considering dropping out when she joined the inaugural group of Renaissance Scholars in 2002. With the program’s support, she was among its first graduates in 2004. Subsequently, she earned her masters degree in educational counseling and took the reins of the program three years ago. 

“I feel so blessed to have the privilege to work with such an amazing and resilient group of students,” Gomez says. “We watch them grow and blossom into successful men and women who have beaten the odds and are changing their lives.”

Gomez, along with a Renaissance Scholars educational counselor and student interns, reaches out to local high schools and recruits former foster youth to apply Cal Poly Pomona and to participate in the program. She and her staff work side by side with the students from the time they join the program until they walk down the aisle at graduation.

Scholars receive financial assistance, year-round campus housing, academic advising, tutoring, counseling and support, leadership training and educational enrichment opportunities. They also are eligible to attend the tree-week Summer Bridge program for incoming freshmen.

Koji Uesugi, who assisted founding director James Norfleet in developing the program and is now associated dean of special-funded programs at Norco College, says: “These are extraordinary students who, in many cases, have gone through very traumatic situations and, despite that, have preserved and persisted and made their way to college. But getting through college is difficult. Support systems can make all the difference in the world in terms of their success.” 

The support system they developed required commitment from multiple departments on campus. Students needed a physical space where they felt safe and a supportive staff familiar with heir unique needs. Mandatory meetings with academic advisors and counseling were key components, along with guaranteed, year-round housing and access to meals during winter, spring and summer breaks. For some Renaissance Scholars, the residence halls are the closest things they have to a permanent home.

“We even helped them get their driver’s license,” Uesugi says.

After getting buy-in from a broad range of departments and approval from the university president, Cal Poly Pomona secured a three-year grant from the Stuart Foundation as seed money. Since then, the university has committed to sustain the Renaissance Scholars program through a variety of state and grant funding, as well as generous donors whose contributions augment services and scholarships.

When the program started, only Cal State Fullerton had a similar service, Guardian Scholars, dedicated to helping former foster youth succeed in college. The inaugural participants at Cal Poly Pomona were given the opportunity help name the program, and they decided on a name that reflected their abilities and belief that they truly belonged in college.

“Renaissance came up as both a symbol of renewal as well as a renaissance person who is multitalented and could do many things,” Uesugi says. “Students wanted a program name that more positively reflected who they were and what they aspired to be, and “Renaissance” best represented that.”

Today, many colleges and universities have initiated similar programs, which have proved to be successful. Nationally, the graduation rate for former foster youth is around 3 percent, according to the CSU Chancellor’s Office. Cal Poly Pomona’s Renaissance Scholars program has served 123 students in the past decade, and the graduation rate is more than 50 percent.

“We attribute the difference to the guidance, attention and overall support we have been able to provide to Renaissance Scholars for the past 10 years,” Gomez says.

Renaissance Scholars has received several significant donations in recent years, including support from the Ludwick Family Foundation, Teague Family Foundation and California Community Foundation.

Currently, the program serves a maximum of 50 students and provides a computer lab/study room and student lounge near the university bookstore. Monique Allard, executive director of student support and equity programs, says she would love to expand the program to serve all of the estimated 100 former foster youth on campus.

“Unfortunately, because are currently at capacity, we may only be able to admit 10 or fewer new student to the program,” she says, noting students are selected based on a process that includes an application and personal interviews.

Increasing scholarship opportunities would also greatly help students in their journey, Allard says.

“We have been fortunate with donations and grants to offer a small amount of scholarships. But even with financial aid, each of our Renaissance Scholars still has an unmet need of $7,000 – $9,000 per year,” she says, referring to money needed to cover the cost of tuition fees, books and supplies, housing and food.

As seniors close in on graduation, Renaissance Scholars offers seminars focused on preparing them for life after college, including job interview tips, career skills and money management.

“We want to continue to strengthen our efforts to support students in becoming fully independent, educated professionals who will contribute to the community,” Allard says

A Mentor to Other Foster Youths

Enrique Montiel, whose father died of cirrhosis when Enrique was 12, was motivated to do something with his life. He decided to become a social worker so he could assume custody of his younger brother and sister, who had been living in foster care since their mother’s death.

Now, his Renaissance Scholars experience motivates him to encourage other foster youth to go to college and to become Renaissance Scholars themselves.

As a first-generation college student, Montiel didn’t know what to expect when he arrived at Cal Poly Pomona in 2002, but Renaissance Scholars helped him navigate the unfamiliar terrain and gave him a sense to belonging among other students with similar experiences.

“Emotionally, it made it easier for me,” he says. “We formed another family within Renaissance Scholars. It was not just about school; it was about family issues and about personal issues. That was a key in helping me succeed in college.”

The program has expanded and improved since Montiel was a student. Services now include low-cost or free dental and eye exams. And, a computer lab is a critical resource.

Montiel, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2006, works in Los Angeles for Nuevo Amanecer Latino Children’s Services, the same foster care agency that placed him when he was a child.

His younger siblings came to live with him for about four years. His youngest brother, Ramiro, is currently a freshman at Cal Poly Pomona and a Renaissance Scholar.

Montiel stays in touch with former Renaissance Scholars through Facebook. He attends events as an alumnus and shares his story and encourages new Renaissance Scholars to earn their degree.