LEAF Center for College Success

LEAF Center for College Success (LCCS) offers a structured approach to increasing college enrollment and retention for first-generation students of color. We provide essential resources and support services for Latinx students in East San José enrolling in a community college, 4-year institution, or a trade or vocational program.

We mentor, guide, and empower first-generation students and their families to (1) build a college-going culture, (2) confidently navigate the college enrollment process, (3) persist through college, and (4) graduate with a clear career pathway.

LEAF Center for College Success (LCCS) ofrece un enfoque estructurado para aumentar la inscripción y retención universitaria para estudiantes de color de primera generación. Brindamos recursos esenciales y servicios de apoyo para estudiantes latinos en el este de San José que se inscriben en un colegio comunitario, una institución de 4 años o un programa comercial o vocacional.

Asesoramos, guiamos y capacitamos a los estudiantes de primera generación y sus familias para (1) construir una cultura de asistencia a la universidad, (2) navegar con confianza el proceso de inscripción a la universidad, (3) persistir en la universidad y (4) graduarse con una clara trayectoria profesional.

Apply To Be A LEAF Scholar

Priority Application Deadline: February 1, 2024

Fecha límite de solicitud prioritaria: 1 de febrero de 2024

Application Deadline: April 1, 2024

Fecha límite de solicitud: 1 de abril de 2024

Questions or need assistance applying? Please contact:

¿Tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda para presentar la solicitud? Por favor contactar:

Emily Ramos | Email: emily@leafca.org

She/Her or They/Them pronouns | Senior Program Manager

Ella/Ella/Elles pronombres | Gerente sénior de programas

College Support Services/ Servicios de Apoyo Universitario

Financial Support / Soporte Financiero

Mentorship / Mentoria

Family Engagement / Compromiso Familiar

  • Hands-on guidance through the college application and enrollment process.

  • Workshops tailored to financial aid, advocacy and success, career pathways and readiness, plus more.

  • Orientación práctica a través del proceso de inscripción y solicitud universitaria.

  • Talleres diseñados para ayuda financiera, defensa y éxito, trayectorias profesionales y preparación, y más.

  • Provide $2,000 to East San José high school students planning to continue their education through at least the first two years of college.

  • Proporcionar $2,000 a los estudiantes de la escuela secundaria del este de San José que planean continuar su educación durante al menos los primeros dos años de universidad.

  • Alumni of East San José High Schools currently in college or graduate school will support, guide, and encourage the cohorts of LEAF Scholars as they navigate college.

  • Mentors are given a scholarship to support their educational pursuits.

  • Los alumnos de las escuelas secundarias del este de San José que actualmente están en la universidad o en la escuela de posgrado apoyarán, guiarán y alentarán a los grupos de becarios LEAF mientras navegan por la universidad.

  • Los mentores reciben una beca para apoyar sus actividades educativas.

  • Provides parents with tools and resources to advocate, support, and guide their students through college.

  • Parents receive a $250 stipend each semester their LEAF Scholar stays in college, alleviating food insecurity concerns.

  • Proporciona a los padres herramientas y recursos para defender, apoyar y guiar a sus estudiantes durante la universidad.

  • Los padres reciben un estipendio de $250 cada semestre que su becario LEAF permanece en la universidad, lo que alivia los problemas de inseguridad alimentaria.

Program Eligibility Requirements / Requisitos de elegibilidad del programa

To be eligible for this program, applicants must:

  • Be a current Senior in high school in East San José

  • Identify as low-income, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or a first-generation college student

  • Plan to enroll in community college, university, or trade school/certificate program for the 2024-25 school year

Para ser elegible para este programa, los solicitantes deben:

  • Ser estudiante de último año de secundaria en el este de San José.

  • Identificarse como estudiante universitario de bajos ingresos, hispano/latino y/o de primera generación.

  • Planea inscribirse en un colegio comunitario, universidad o escuela vocacional/programa de certificado para el año escolar 2024-25

If accepted into the LEAF College Success Program, you will be provided:

  • Mentorship-A peer mentor to support them through the first 2 years of college

  • $2,000 Scholarship to be used towards college expenses during their first 2 years of college

  • College Support Services-Ongoing Financial, Academic, Social-Emotional, and Career & Transfer Planning support through workshops, webinars, emails, individual meetings, and more! 

Si es aceptado en el Programa LEAF College Success, se le proporcionará:

  • Mentoría: un mentor de pares para apoyarlos durante los primeros 2 años de universidad.

  • Beca de $2,000 que se utilizará para gastos universitarios durante los primeros 2 años de universidad.

  • Servicios de apoyo universitario: apoyo continuo en la planificación financiera, académica, socioemocional y de carrera y transferencia a través de talleres, seminarios web, correos electrónicos, reuniones individuales y más.

Mentee (+) Mentor Pairing

LEAF Scholars will be paired with a peer mentor either currently attending college as a junior or senior, or a recent graduate, who will provide support and resources as they transition into a post-secondary institution.

Mentors will serve as an ally and support system through any potential challenges and questions that may arise for students during college.

LEAF Scholars will meet with their mentors monthly and be supported throughout the school year as challenges arise.

Los becarios LEAF serán emparejados con un mentor que actualmente asiste a la universidad como estudiante de tercer o cuarto año, o un recién graduado, quien les brindará apoyo y recursos en su transición a una institución postsecundaria.

Los mentores servirán como aliados y sistemas de apoyo a través de posibles desafíos y preguntas que puedan surgir para los estudiantes durante la universidad.

Los becarios LEAF se reunirán con sus mentores mensualmente y recibirán apoyo durante todo el año escolar a medida que surjan desafíos.

Lupita Alvarez

Pita is a 5th-year Environmental Studies student with a concentration in Science Sustainable Communities at California State University, Monterey Bay and volunteers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Conservation Associate Program.

Estuardo Javier Sanchez

I’m the first in my family to have obtained associate degrees in both Science Transfer and Arts for Administration of Justice. I aspire to ensure that at-risk youth receive an exceptional education via my mentorship responsibilities with LEAF.

Jordyn Fuggins

Jordyn Fuggins has recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a major in Sociology and a minor in History. Having been a student, Jordyn understands the value of support and guidance mentors can provide to college students. She is excited to be a mentor to a group of college students.

Meet Some Mentors!

Steven Pazce

I’m a Platform Experience Associate at Google who enjoys hanging out with loved ones, watching baseball, and playing video games. Importantly, I identify with LEAF’s mission of bridging the education gap for underrepresented communities.

Erika Galindo

Erika Galindo is a 3rd-year student at UC Berkeley, pursuing a double major in Economics and Data Science. She actively participates in the Latin American Leadership Society, a social organization for Latinx students, and the Berkeley Business Review, an undergraduate business journal.

Larissa Arzaluz Ala

Larissa Arzaluz Ala, a 3rd-year Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major at UC Berkeley, interned at BlackRock where she worked on data science in finance. She is involved with Brown Issues, the Association of Women in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, and plays semi-pro soccer.

Daniela Becerra

Daniela Becerra is a 4th-year Psychology major at San Jose State University. She works with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. She enjoys mentoring through LEAF and Breakthrough Silicon Valley to give back to her community and fight for equal education and opportunities.

Pedro Robles

I’m a certified Phlebotomy Technician (via National Healthcareer Association) who loves sharing my expertise with LEAF scholars as a first-generation college student.

Ruby Lopez

I'm a 3rd-year Political Science major at UC Berkeley. I decided to be a LEAF mentor because of the impact my mentors' support had on me while navigating a Predominantly White Institution as a first-generation Latina.

Felisa Diaz

Felisa Diaz is a 4th-year Molecular and Cell Biology major at the University of California, Berkeley. As a LEAF mentor, she aims to provide guidance, support, and resources to help students explore their career pathways.

Dayanara Medina

Dayanara Medina graduated from De Anza College and the University of California Riverside majoring in Political Science International Affairs with a minor in Chicano Studies and a Spanish Interpreting and Translation certificate. Dayanara currently works as a Bilingual Aide for the Campbell Union High School District.