News

SMART Tutor Guides Scholar Towards a College Degree

(Winter 2024) – Tianlee Chu, a San Francisco native, believes that “tutoring forges a positive mutual brain connection unlike almost anything else in the world. When two people work together to learn challenging subjects, they have to listen and respond actively to one another, and be willing to be vulnerable.”

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SMART Scholar awarded prestigious scholarship, pursues coding

(Fall 2023) – Saúl Morales, a current SMART Scholar and eighth grader at The Nueva School, is looking to his future as a college graduate. In September, Saúl was one of 43 students selected from more than 800 7th grade applicants nationwide to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars award this year.

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SMART Alum and Software Engineer Gives Back as Mentor

(Summer 2023) – “Oh, I love New York. Moving here is probably the best decision I’ve made in my life. Just because of how large a decision it was, and also because of all the unexpected, positive things that have happened since.”

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“Coast to Coast”: How this SMART Scholar discovered college, her passion for science, and how to help others

(Spring 2023) – Currently a sophomore in college, Kathya’s unique SMART journey began in 9th Grade. Encouraged by her younger brother’s SMART experience, Kathya’s mother advocated for her to apply to SMART when she was in 8th Grade.

“It was during the interview process at SMART that I started to realize that college will take some planning, because so much of what we do in high school determines our college options.”

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SMART’s career conference inspired this Scholar’s dreams

(Fall 2022) – In late August 2022, SMART Scholar Aaliyah Perry moved to the east coast and started college at Mount Holyoke College. Mount Holyoke was high on Aaliyah’s list of college preferences, because of the college’s wide range of course offerings on her journey to becoming a licensed Speech Therapist. Aaliyah is already considering specialization and certifications in this field beyond college.

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How One SMART Teacher Bolstered Student Confidence and Love of Learning

(Fall 2022) – Nneka Williams has been teaching math and wellness since 1999. Last spring she came across an ad seeking a teacher for SMART’s 2022 Summer Academic Enrichment Program. She was intrigued by SMART’s stated organizational values, and specifically the value of Joy, which she believes is so important for learning. However, what she found most compelling was SMART’s program design that starts engaging students in 4th grade and supports them all the way through college graduation.

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SMART Goes to College 2023 Photos

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SMART Goes to College 2022 Photos

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Scholar leads through activism, mentoring, and the arts

(Winter 2022) – “I’ve worked really hard to make sure that mine and other communities are safe and included.”

De’Yani Dillard, SMART Class of 2022, was devoted to ensuring the wellness of her community since she was a young girl. “My heart is always in the community,” she shares. De’Yani is a witty and responsible leader and an activist. She opens her heart and knowledge to support those around her.

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Companies support SMART and pave paths to opportunity

(Winter 2022) – Since SMART was founded in 1997, partnerships with corporations in the Bay Area have been critical to the organization’s growth. Companies like Qatalyst Partners and Sixth Street have long been dedicated to promoting educational equity in the region and supporting SMART Scholars on their journey to college.

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