First Gen Scholars

10/28/2025

Right on, Lexine!

First Gen Scholars

05/20/2025

Honored. Humbled. Ready.

I’m thrilled to share that First Gen Scholars has been selected as a semifinalist for the Alliance Healthcare Foundation ‘s $1 Million Innovation Initiative (i2).

This opportunity is more than just funding—it’s a powerful validation of the work our team has poured into building a future where economic mobility isn’t a privilege, but a right.

Our initiative, Classroom to Boardroom is a workforce pathway that starts in high school and ends with first-generation students landing careers they love in the communities that raised them.

We’re creating more than just opportunity—we’re building infrastructure for equity.

If you are a local company in San Diego looking for the talent, have we got 1,000 Scholars for you! Send me a DM and let’s start building.

A big congratulations to our fellow semifinalists! No matter who wins the award, your visions inspire us and remind us that bold solutions are possible when we center community.

Ten Nonprofits Advance to Semi-finals in Innovation Initiative Bold Ideas. Real Impact. A Healthier San Diego. After an energizing first phase of workshops, coaching, and collaboration, ten visionary nonprofit teams have been selected as semi-finalists in Alliance Healthcare Foundation’s 2025 Inno...

01/10/2025

We are so grateful to Councilmember Kent Lee for his leadership and heart!!!

12/14/2024

If you’re looking for a sign…maybe this is it!

Three students from three different districts in San Diego, all First Gen Scholars and all have potential full rides to !

We cannot wait to connect you with our other Scholars currently going to The Farm!

The majority of private schools deadlines for regular decision (including Stanford) happen Jan 1 - Jan 15, so plan accordingly, make sure you share your story and shoot your shot.

Winter break is a perfect time to do that and Scholars…private schools offer very generous aid for low-income students, many graduation rates are 90%+, and alumni network is (chef’s kiss).

12/12/2024

Put up that “ #1” for community philanthropy! Super grateful to attend the AANHPI Community Celebration in conjunction with the launch of a $2.5 million investment into the nation’s 7th largest AANHPI community!

We were so honored to be among some of the giants in the community, and even more honored that the Youth-led and Youth-Founded 501c3 board of the (soon to be re-established as the “Rising AAPI Youth of San Diego” (RAYS)) to be there and see themselves as leaders in the community as well.

The fact that 40% of Cambodian adults do not have a high school diploma and only 10% of Pacific Islanders have a college degree shows are two examples that the work that we do through First Gen Scholars can cause a paradigm shift in the community.

If you are interested in getting involved in the RAYS AAPI-youth nonprofit or learning more about the Southeast Asian First Gen cohort, please register for our “First Five, Next Five” event on Saturday, January 4th.

Here is the link:

https://givebutter.com/First5-Next5

Thank you San Diego Foundation for taking the lead and making this space!

12/10/2024

For those of you who are still thinking about applying to private schools, First Gen Scholars would like to share some advice from .thai , a Scholar who was in your shoes last year.

“On the day I was not selected as a finalist for QuestBridge, I felt completely hopeless—almost ready to give up on applying to college altogether: I cried for hours, fighting with the thoughts of whether or not I could be successful like my peers.

I couldn’t shake the nagging doubt: Can I get accepted into these schools? Because statistically, I shouldn’t be here! I came here to the US from Vietnam four years ago, being raised by a single parent and going to school in City Heights. There were so many obstacles that stood in my way.

But, I am more than just a statistic. I remembered all the hard work I had put in, my passion for becoming a veterinarian, and my family and friends’ immense love and support. I decided to dive into my UC and Common App applications. I applied to five UCs and eight privates. I spent my entire Thanksgiving and Winter breaks working on them, driven by the hope that I will end up somewhere I’m meant to be.

And sometimes, your hard work and story defy statistics! I got accepted to UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UCSD, UC Irvine, and even two Ivy League schools (which little me could never have imagined). Fast forward to now: I’m majoring in Animal Science at Cornell University, one of the top veterinary schools, chasing my dream. I just wrapped up my first college semester and am applying for an epigenetics research lab.

To all of our Scholars, Wicked may be a musical, but you have been defying statistics and defying gravity your whole life. Do not let someone else’s decision determine your direction. We are here for you, and some of our Scholars like Trish will be here during the winter break to support you.

Trish, thank you for your message and congratulations on winning the scholarship named after Willie J Jones Jr. We look forward to seeing you and other 1st Gen Alumni at our First Five, Next Five event on January 4th!

https://givebutter.com/First5-Next5

12/06/2024

🎉 First Five, Next Five: A Founder’s Celebration 🎉

This isn’t just a celebration—it’s an opportunity to help our Scholars looking for internships and jobs for the 700+ students currently in college! While we’re excited to honor five incredible years of First Gen Scholars, our focus for this event is on building connections that empower our alumni to thrive here in our hometown.

We’re inviting San Diego professionals, industry leaders, and community members to join us in creating opportunities for our alumni.

Whether it’s mentorship, internships, or career advice, your involvement could be the spark that changes a life.

This initiative is something near and dear to our founder, and for his birthday, we are launching our First Gen Bday Bingo Card!

Some of these squares will be hard to fill out, but we believe with YOUR help, we can make this happen by:

✅ Introducing us to industry leaders in San Diego
✅ Sharing to your network in key sectors
✅ Attending the event and connecting with our amazing alumni

Purchasing a ticket to the event helps us bridge the gap between ambition and opportunity (link in bio)

Mark our First Five, Next Five event on your calendar and bring your connections (figuratively and literally) to the table.

📅 Event Details: Saturday, January 4th, 2024 1PM-4PM
📍 Location: Meraki San Diego

IF YOU CAN HELP US FILL OUT A BINGO SQUARE, SEND US A DM! (Maybe even tag some specific people who can help us fill this square out! )

12/05/2024

On January 4th, 2025, we’re throwing a double birthday celebration and fundraiser at Meraki San Diego for First Gen Scholars (turning 5!) AND Jonathan Burgos, our Founder and Executive Director (turning 50!).

**While the birthday will be a golden one for Jonathan, it is your presence that is priceless!!**

Please join us as we celebrate these milestones and ring in the new year. We will be sharing program updates and our vision and plans for 2025.

You’ll have the chance to hear directly from our scholars and enjoy delicious food from our friends at Meraki.

Alumni, we would LOVE to have you attend, and our intention is to connect YOU to professionals in San Diego who have a vested interest in seeing you succeed.

For our community, we would love to have professionals from all over San Diego to not just support the program, but be intentional about helping our Scholars have thriving careers.

We are so grateful for for hosting us and the amazing for helping make this event happen!

Tickets are on sale here:
https://givebutter.com/First5-Next5

See you on 1/4 from 1-4!!!

Dress Attire: Wear your favorite college gear!

12/03/2024

Yesterday, College Match decisions came out.

Yesterday, some of our Scholars got into the best schools the nation. On full rides.

Emory. Stanford. Columbia. Boston University. Class of 2025 Scholars have have already earned over 2 million in scholarships!

While getting into colleges with single digit acceptance rates are nice, but what we love is the 95%+ GRAD rate and the fact that they will graduate from these colleges debt free! We cannot wait to share some of their stories with you.

This is just the beginning. Many more of the Class of 2025 will get in, and many of them will get in with full rides.

This. Is. Why. We. Do. What. We. Do.

Your donations this Giving Tuesday will help us continue making good trouble in our community.

If you are looking for a little nonprofit that is helping change the trajectory of First Gens, please consider supporting us, and possibly even becoming a monthly donor.

https://givebutter.com/FirstGenMonth-2024

Please help us help more amazing Scholars.

12/03/2024

🌍 What is Giving Tuesday? 🌍

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that started in 2012. Celebrated every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, it’s a day dedicated to giving back—whether through donations, acts of kindness, or supporting causes that inspire you. 💙

Today, join us in empowering first-generation college students through First Gen Scholars. Your support provides mentorship, guidance, and resources to help students achieve their academic dreams, debt-free.

Last year, with your generosity we raised over $5K. We are halfway there…let’s keep the momentum going so that we can continue supporting our Scholars from San Diego!

https://givebutter.com/FirstGenMonth-2024

Thank you for choosing to give back and celebrate the power of community! 🌟

12/02/2024

🚨 TOMORROW is the Deadline! 🚨
UC and CSU applications are due December 2, and this is your chance to take that shot and hit “submit.”

Why does this matter so much? Every year, over 3,000 first-generation, low-income students in San Diego County—students who took the right classes and earned a 3.0 GPA or higher—don’t apply to opportunities they’ve worked so hard to earn.

Every. Single. Year.

That’s why First Gen Scholars was created. From San Marcos to San Ysidro, students across San Diego County are stepping into our office hours at the Center in Southeast San Diego.

Over Thanksgiving break alone, hundreds of Class of 2025 seniors showed up, and our team has been working tirelessly to ensure every student we serve has the support they need.

And the best part? We’ve seen our Scholars paying it forward—helping their peers outside our program, sharing tips, and encouraging fellow First Gen Club members to embrace their stories and take pride in their journeys.

Together, we’re changing the game in San Diego.

-95% of our Scholars earn acceptance to colleges.
-They’re thriving on UC campuses and lifting as they climb.
-Every application is a victory for all our Scholars.

📣 Final Score:
Systemic Inequity: 0
First Gen Scholars: 1

To every senior reading this:
You’ve worked too hard and come too far to stop now. Take the shot. Hit submit.
And when March application decisions roll around, you just might hear the buzzer and realize—you scored the winning goal. 🏆

Let’s Freaking Go First Gen Scholars!💪

(Scroll to the last slide to see our Scholars tribute to .olosa when he celebrates them after they submit!)