Our Impact By the Numbers
More Graduates
Beating the Odds
* “Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States: 2019 Historical Trend Report,” Pell Institute
0%+
of 10,000 Degrees four-year college students earn bachelor’s degrees, compared to 31% of their peers nationally
0
College Graduates This Year
Strong Community College Pathway
3x The National Average
Rate that 10,000 Degrees community college students transfer to and graduate from four-year colleges.
More Students Served
0+
Total Students and Families
0+
Current College Students
0+
College Knowledge and Financial Aid Workshops
0
Near-Peer Fellows
0
College Managers
0+
Volunteers and Career Mentors
0+
Academic Support Volunteers
More Financial Support
Less Student Debt
University of California, Santa Cruz, 2020
Covid-19
Prior to the pandemic, 10,000 Degrees students from low-income backgrounds and thousands more were already struggling to stay in college and graduate. Today’s crisis is only deepening the prevailing racial injustices and systemic inequities that have historically plagued our communities. Students from low-income backgrounds are far more likely to drop out or not enroll at all, and unemployment rates are at all time highs.
This is why what we do at 10,000 Degrees is unequivocally essential. A college degree changes the lives of our students, their families, and entire communities. It’s the only way to forever break the cycle of poverty for generations to come.
Little did we know that COVID-19 would be the true test of the strength of our Fellowship program. This crisis has emphasized just how much these relationships matter. Our Fellows are the go-to trusted source for our students and their families, keeping them engaged and connected to their education.
University of California, Santa Cruz, 2020
Covid-19
Prior to the pandemic, 10,000 Degrees students from low-income backgrounds and thousands more were already struggling to stay in college and graduate. Today’s crisis is only deepening the prevailing racial injustices and systemic inequities that have historically plagued our communities. Students from low-income backgrounds are far more likely to drop out or not enroll at all, and unemployment rates are at all time highs.
This is why what we do at 10,000 Degrees is unequivocally essential. A college degree changes the lives of our students, their families, and entire communities. It’s the only way to forever break the cycle of poverty for generations to come.
Little did we know that COVID-19 would be the true test of the strength of our Fellowship program. This crisis has emphasized just how much these relationships matter. Our Fellows are the go-to trusted source for our students and their families, keeping them engaged and connected to their education.
COVID-10: Our Response
OUR GOAL: To reach as many students as possible and keep them connected to and engaged with their education.
- Redoubling student support and moving online within 48 hrs of school closures.
- Hosting ongoing online learning sessions.
- Making step-by-step tutorials on virtual learning platforms.
- Assisting with Fall contingency plans for continued distance learning.
- Transforming in-person high school and college Summer Bridge program to innovative online experience.
- Extending scholarship application deadlines and expediting $2M in scholarships for emergency relief.
- Connecting students and alumni to resources to stay competitive in today’s job market.
- Collaborating with school and community partners to become go-to, shelter-in-place student resource.
Exceeding Our Strategic Goals
We launched our strategic plan in 2016 with three ambitious goals. As we near completion of the plan, we are on track to meet and exceed them.
Goal 1: Grow College Success
- Doubled the number of students and families reached to more than 12,000.
- Doubled the number of college students to more than 2,200.
- Doubled our scholarship awards to $4 million annually and launched scholarships in all regions.
- Expanded Community College Pathways to serve more than 1,000 students.
- Expanded programs to four new communities—Napa, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and the South Bay.
Goal 2: Engage Communities and Strategic Partners
- Engaged in high-impact partnerships with schools, colleges, community-based organizations, and coalitions.
- Launched a career readiness program, including internships with key corporate partners, skill-building and networking workshops, career mentors, and a career booster program with Braven.
- Joined in local and national dialogue and policy efforts: National College Attainment Network, National Scholarship Providers Association, America Forward, Marin Promise Partnership, and the Northern California College Promise Coalition.
Goal 3: Grow and Sustain Impact
- Grew our innovative Fellowship Program by 400% and trained 62 near-peer Fellows.
- Increased revenue from $7M to $12.6M, allowing us to invest in expanded programming and foundational resources to guide future growth.
- Completed the first year of a three-year external evaluation by the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities highlighting the critical combination of direct scholarships and meaningful personalized support that we provide.
Erick Tobar
10,000 Degrees Student
University of California, Davis, 2023
College of Marin, 2020
Erick Tobar was featured recently in the New York Times. Read on for more of his inspiring story.
Erick Tobar immigrated to the Bay Area from Guatemala after his father’s untimely death. When his mother’s health prevented her from working, Erick had to take two jobs to keep his family afloat while finishing high school and community college.
“I want to get into a UC,” he recalled thinking, “so I can prove to myself I have the capacity to do it.” (New York Times, July 31).
Thanks in part to a 10,000 Degrees scholarship and support, Erick is now UC-bound!
“I am so thankful to 10,000 Degrees for giving me the scholarship and mentorship I needed when it mattered most. I’m so excited to be transferring from College of Marin to UC Davis starting this fall! Saul Pimentel, a 10,000 Degrees Fellow, and the entire 10,000 Degrees team supported me all along the way.”
Erick hopes to become a certified public accountant, continue to graduate school, and eventually start a business with his brother.
Erick Tobar
10,000 Degrees Student
University of California, Davis, 2023
College of Marin, 2020
Erick Tobar was featured recently in the New York Times. Read on for more of his inspiring story.
Erick Tobar immigrated to the Bay Area from Guatemala after his father’s untimely death. When his mother’s health prevented her from working, Erick had to take two jobs to keep his family afloat while finishing high school and community college.
“I want to get into a UC,” he recalled thinking, “so I can prove to myself I have the capacity to do it.” (New York Times, July 31).
Thanks in part to a 10,000 Degrees scholarship and support, Erick is now UC-bound!
“I am so thankful to 10,000 Degrees for giving me the scholarship and mentorship I needed when it mattered most. I’m so excited to be transferring from College of Marin to UC Davis starting this fall! Saul Pimentel, a 10,000 Degrees Fellow, and the entire 10,000 Degrees team supported me all along the way.”
Erick hopes to become a certified public accountant, continue to graduate school, and eventually start a business with his brother.
Rosa Colin-Vasquez
10,000 Degrees Student, Santa Rosa Junior College, 2021
University of California, Berkeley, 2023
Rosa Colin’s story is inspiring. A student and alumna of 10,000 Degrees, Rosa wouldn’t be where she is today—planning to transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College to UC Berkeley next fall—if it weren’t for her perseverance, intelligence, family, and 10,000 Degrees support.
“Because of 10,000 Degrees, college became a reality for me,” Rosa said. One of four kids and raised by a single mom, Rosa is the first in her family to graduate from high school and go to college. She first heard about 10,000 Degrees at Casa Grande High School.
“It wasn’t until my Junior year that I completely understood the concept of college, but I didn’t think it was for me. The college system isn’t designed for first-generation students of color. Most of us, including myself, have to work several jobs, take care of our families, and go to school at the same time,” Rosa said. For the last few years, Rosa has worked full time to help her family pay the monthly bills and care for her younger siblings while carrying a full load at Santa Rosa Junior College.
“This is why I thought college wasn’t for me, but 10,000 Degrees showed me that it was,” Rosa said. “I wouldn’t have three Associates’ Degrees and the determination to go after my Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. if it weren’t for 10,000 Degrees.”
Rosa hopes to transfer to UC Berkeley next fall to begin her studies there.
“After graduating and obtaining my Master’s Degree in Social Work & Human Resources, I plan to get to work! My greatest passion in life is to help people, especially those who can’t speak up for themselves. I want to give back to my community and help low-income families of color thrive, because they are resilient but sometimes they aren’t connected to resources that will help them succeed. I’m even thinking about becoming an immigration lawyer. Whatever path I take, I know I will be successful because of the support and tools 10,000 Degrees has given me, because they believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
Rosa Colin-Vasquez
10,000 Degrees Student, Santa Rosa Junior College, 2021
University of California, Berkeley, 2023
Rosa Colin’s story is inspiring. A student and alumna of 10,000 Degrees, Rosa wouldn’t be where she is today—planning to transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College to UC Berkeley next fall—if it weren’t for her perseverance, intelligence, family, and 10,000 Degrees support.
“Because of 10,000 Degrees, college became a reality for me,” Rosa said. One of four kids and raised by a single mom, Rosa is the first in her family to graduate from high school and go to college. She first heard about 10,000 Degrees at Casa Grande High School.
“It wasn’t until my Junior year that I completely understood the concept of college, but I didn’t think it was for me. The college system isn’t designed for first-generation students of color. Most of us, including myself, have to work several jobs, take care of our families, and go to school at the same time,” Rosa said. For the last few years, Rosa has worked full time to help her family pay the monthly bills and care for her younger siblings while carrying a full load at Santa Rosa Junior College.
“This is why I thought college wasn’t for me, but 10,000 Degrees showed me that it was,” Rosa said. “I wouldn’t have three Associates’ Degrees and the determination to go after my Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. if it weren’t for 10,000 Degrees.”
Rosa hopes to transfer to UC Berkeley next fall to begin her studies there.
“After graduating and obtaining my Master’s Degree in Social Work & Human Resources, I plan to get to work! My greatest passion in life is to help people, especially those who can’t speak up for themselves. I want to give back to my community and help low-income families of color thrive, because they are resilient but sometimes they aren’t connected to resources that will help them succeed. I’m even thinking about becoming an immigration lawyer. Whatever path I take, I know I will be successful because of the support and tools 10,000 Degrees has given me, because they believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
University of California, Berkeley, 2022
College of Marin, 2020
Santa Rosa Junior College, 2022
VP of Marketing for student government
"If it hadn’t been for 10,000 Degrees, I wouldn’t be in college today."
Maria Arreguin
10,000 Degrees Student
Santa Rosa Junior College, 2022
Maria Arreguin, a first-generation college student, first heard about 10,000 Degrees from her high school counselor. “I was talking to him about whether college was really the thing for me. My parents didn’t go to college so I didn’t have anyone to talk to about college or financial aid. My counselor said that shouldn’t deter me and knew the perfect people to speak to … 10,000 Degrees!”
During her sophomore year in high school, Maria attended 10,000 Degrees Summer Intensive, and learned about different colleges. “My heart was intent on going to college, and 10,000 Degrees helped me do school searches and learn the different requirements for applying to each one,” says Maria, who now attends Santa Rosa Junior College with plans to apply to their nursing program. “10,000 Degrees also provided emotional support. I had a really rough patch with my parents, and they were always there for me. I worked at SRJC’s Intercultural Center, where 10,000 Degrees was based, and so I would stop by and say hello every day.”
“Now, even with the pandemic, the 10,000 Degrees team still reaches out to me virtually,” Maria says. “Marisol, Josue, and Halea have all been helpful when I have a question. They helped me with college applications, financial aid, emotional support, and have been there to answer any college questions I have.”
Bibiana Luna
10,000 Degrees Student
CSU, Channel Islands, 2022
Santa Rosa Junior College, 2020
Tania Requenes
10,000 Degrees Program Manager, College of Marin
10,000 Degrees Alumna & Staff Since 2012
MA, University of San Francisco, 2020
BA, University of California, Davis, 2012
AA, Santa Rosa Junior College, 2010
I first got involved with 10,000 Degrees as a high school student in 2005. I’m the oldest in my generation, and no one in my family had any knowledge about the college experience. I was a strong student, but not getting the support that I needed. Being accepted into the 10,000 Degrees Summer Intensive was life-changing. It was the first time I set foot on a college campus, and the first time I thought college was possible for me.
After I graduated, 10,000 Degrees offered me a summer job as a Summer Intensive advisor. Initially, I took the job to give back to an organization that had taken a chance on me. But I became inspired to help students with similar shared experiences. Later that year, I was hired as an intern and then promoted to 10,000 Degrees Fellow. Now, I’m a Program Manager on our College Success team.
Since graduating, my sister has graduated college and my brother is finishing his last quarter at UC Santa Barbara. I have also been able to help my cousins enroll in college, including some in community colleges. I have seen first hand the life-changing opportunities that higher education offers, including economic stability and job security.
At 10,000 Degrees, we are able to change some of the systemic institutional barriers and create more equitable systems of change. Returning to the community and giving back is incredibly important to me. I really believe in this work and want to dedicate my life’s work to making education a reality for all students.
Receiving a higher education is truly life-changing, and breaks the cycle of poverty for many students, including me.
Tania Requenes
10,000 Degrees Program Manager, College of Marin
10,000 Degrees Alumna & Staff Since 2012
MA, University of San Francisco, 2020
BA, University of California, Davis, 2012
AA, Santa Rosa Junior College, 2010
I first got involved with 10,000 Degrees as a high school student in 2005. I’m the oldest in my generation, and no one in my family had any knowledge about the college experience. I was a strong student, but not getting the support that I needed. Being accepted into the 10,000 Degrees Summer Intensive was life-changing. It was the first time I set foot on a college campus, and the first time I thought college was possible for me.
After I graduated, 10,000 Degrees offered me a summer job as a Summer Intensive advisor. Initially, I took the job to give back to an organization that had taken a chance on me. But I became inspired to help students with similar shared experiences. Later that year, I was hired as an intern and then promoted to 10,000 Degrees Fellow. Now, I’m a Program Manager on our College Success team.
Since graduating, my sister has graduated college and my brother is finishing his last quarter at UC Santa Barbara. I have also been able to help my cousins enroll in college, including some in community colleges. I have seen first hand the life-changing opportunities that higher education offers, including economic stability and job security.
At 10,000 Degrees, we are able to change some of the systemic institutional barriers and create more equitable systems of change. Returning to the community and giving back is incredibly important to me. I really believe in this work and want to dedicate my life’s work to making education a reality for all students.
Receiving a higher education is truly life-changing, and breaks the cycle of poverty for many students, including me.