Who We Are
Creating a program to further education in first-generation students.
Roaring Fork PreCollegiate is a college access program for motivated students who would be the first in their family to go to college. We recruit qualified students in the 7th grade and follow them through their first year of college. There are four main parts to our programming:
Scholars will be placed in cohorts and partnered with a volunteer mentor from the community. The mentor follows their scholars through high school graduation and into college. Mentors set a college-going expectation while working with scholars on setting and achieving academic and personal goals. They also work with scholars on the development of life skills, such as self advocacy.
All PreCollegiate scholars attend two summer residential college experiences and are expected to attend other college visits. Typically, scholars will stay at or visit Colorado Mountain College, Colorado Mesa University, Colorado State University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and others. These visit experiences and programs are designed to give our scholars a glimpse into what college life would be like and to demonstrate to them that they belong in college.
Also beginning in 7th grade, the Program offers parent classes and support throughout middle and high school. The classes focus on the college application process, the importance of good study habits, college transition issues, and financial aid planning.
The Program offers comprehensive college counseling and financial aid planning for every scholar. Seniors meet with Program Staff every week during senior year to complete applications, scholarships and financial aid. The Program also provides a structured transition from high school to college by working with scholars during the summer after senior year.
Of those, over 80% graduate, which is over three times the national graduation rate of other first-generation college students. In addition, many PreCollegiate scholars not only attend top colleges and universities around the state and country, some go on to pursue secondary degrees-and even PhD.’s-in everything from accounting to law to psychology.