Student U

We are excited to celebrate a significant milestone—Robin Smith’s 1st anniversary as Chief Operating Officer at Student U! Over the past year, Robin has played a pivotal role in driving our mission forward by overseeing key areas like planning, finance, HR, development, and operations at The W.G. Pearson Center. Her leadership and expertise have been vital in ensuring that our team thrives and that our strategic goals are met. Robin’s dedication to educational equity shines through in everything she does. She is passionate about ensuring all students can access the resources and support needed to overcome obstacles. What makes her time with Student U so special is her appreciation for how many of our students return to give back as adults, continuing the cycle of empowerment for future generations. As we reflect on Robin’s first year with us, let’s celebrate her impact and the energy she brings to our community. Here’s to many more years of collaboration and success! Congratulations, Robin, and Big Ups to you! #EmpoweringStudents #BuildingLeaders #ChangingCommunities

Last week our students had an incredible opportunity to visit Lenovo's campus for "A Day with Lenovo: Plan Your Future," hosted by the Lenovo Foundation and the Hispanic/Latino/x Employee Resource Group (HOLA) in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Students connected with Lenovo professionals, participated in resume-building workshops, explored career pathways, and even practiced their interview skills through mock sessions. It was a day filled with learning, networking, and inspiration as our students gained valuable tools for their future professional journeys. A huge thank you to Lenovo for this impactful experience! #EmpoweringStudents #PlanYourFuture #HispanicHeritageMonth

Exciting news! Applications for new students to join the Student U family are now open! We offer a dynamic mix of summer and year-round programming to help first-generation college-bound students in Durham thrive from 6th grade through college graduation. Through academic support, personal growth opportunities, and leadership development, we’re committed to helping students and families succeed. If your student attends a Durham Public School, don’t miss out—apply now and join a community dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders! Applications are due by November 29, 2024. #EmpoweringStudents #BuildingLeaders #ChangingCommunities https://hubs.la/Q02SPWpf0

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at The W.G. Pearson Center Kitchen! Your presence made the event truly special, and we’re excited to begin this new chapter with such a supportive community by our side. For those who couldn't attend, we’ve put together a highlight video that captures the day's energy. We hope it conveys the excitement we all share for the opportunities this space represents for our students and families. We’re also gearing up to open applications for new students to join Student U on October 14th—help us spread the word! Additionally, we invite you to support our partners, Communities in Partnership and Culinary Femme Collective, who are making a significant impact in our community. Together, we are #EmpoweringStudents, #FosteringOpportunities, and #BuildingLeaders. Your ongoing support fuels our mission, and we’re so grateful to have you on this journey with us!

We are beyond excited to welcome Alyzia McAlmon, MSW as our new Associate Director of Family & Community Engagement! Alyzia has been a part of the Student U family since joining as a 7th grader in 2008, and her commitment to driving change has only grown stronger. In her new role, she will support our Community School Coordinators in implementing the Community Schools strategy, fostering leadership structures that address the needs of students, families, and staff. Alyzia's deep-rooted connection to Student U makes her an invaluable leader in expanding our impact and guiding our Sharing Best Practices model. Alyzia's dedication to improving systems that support children and families is evident from her years of service on our Executive Board and her personal journey with Student U. We are thrilled to have her expertise in shaping the future of our community, and we look forward to the incredible work she will continue to do in her new role. Welcome back, Alyzia! #EmpoweringStudents #BuildingLeaders #ChangingCommunities

We are so grateful that Student U has been awarded a grant from the AAA-The Auto Club Group Foundation to support our Financial Literacy Education for First-Generation College-Bound Students program! With this grant funding, we can continue enhancing our financial literacy programming and empower our students and families with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate their financial futures successfully. We want to extend a heartfelt BIG UPS and thank you to the Auto Club Group Foundation for their support and belief in our mission. Their commitment to creating lasting solutions and inspiring learning aligns perfectly with our goal of ensuring that every Durham student can succeed. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us! #EmpoweringStudents #BuildingLeaders #ChangingCommunities

Today, we are raising our glasses again to celebrate Korinna Edwards and the two years of dedication and love she’s poured into Student U. Over the last two years as our High School Program Coordinator, Korinna has been a driving force behind our students' success, ensuring they have the tools and support to reach their dreams. Korinna’s work goes beyond day-to-day responsibilities. She provides guidance, advocacy, and encouragement, lighting the path to a brighter future for every student she interacts with. Whether overseeing advocates and students, working with the tutor coordinator, or helping plan Summer Academy, Korinna ensures that obstacles become stepping stones for our students' growth and success. Here's to many more years of incredible memories, Korinna! Big Ups to you for your relentless commitment to Student U, and thank you for helping us with #EmpoweringStudents, #BuildingLeaders, and #ChangingCommunities!

Throughout the school year, we have the privilege of working with our students in Year-Round Programming(YRP). In just the first three weeks of Fall 2024 YRP, we’ve shared countless smiles and set a strong, positive tone for the rest of the year. Whether it's in our virtual or in-person tutoring with high school students or regular YRP sessions with middle school students, the energy in our community and at the W.G. Pearson Center is infectious. As always, it is an absolute joy to see our students walk through our doors each day. A big shoutout to our dedicated advocates, students, staff, and the entire Student U community! #EmpoweringStudents #BuildingLeaders #ChangingCommunities

The Education Attainment Summit was a pivotal event designed to foster connections within our educational community and ensure every voice was heard, especially those often overlooked. Our mission was to guide individuals from school to meaningful employment by providing the knowledge and resources to achieve their career goals. Last week at Durham Tech, the summit brought together decision-makers, nonprofit leaders, and K-12 leadership to develop clear pathways from high school to post-secondary education and the job market. Through collaboration, we bridged the gap between talent producers and employers, highlighting the value of community colleges and alternative career pathways like certifications and job training. The summit’s positive outcomes included statewide expansion, corporate investment, and community empowerment. By 2034, we aim for all Durham Public Schools (DPS) seniors to graduate with a clear post-secondary plan and for 25% to earn a diploma, degree, or certification. The event helped lay the groundwork for lasting impact and opportunity in our community! Thank you to all of our steadfast supporters who attended this monumental event! Big Ups to all of the individuals and organizations who helped lead and facilitate this summit. #EmpoweringStudents #BuildingLeaders #ChangingCommunities

Let's all give a ‘Big Ups’ to Wendy Ji, one of the newest additions to the Student U community. When she joined our community as Student U’s Associate Director of Student & Family Services for Community Schools, Wendy hit the ground running in supporting our Community School Coordinators in connecting with varying support services and programs. She embodies her passion for supporting students and families, believing healthy students learn better. Wendy is dedicated to her mission of bridging connections between students, families, schools, and communities, and she's set her goals on creating a more equitable future in education. With her expertise, she is already making a significant impact as she supports and strengthens our Family Resource Centers. Welcome, Wendy! We can’t wait to see all the monumental changes you will help us achieve. #EmpoweringStudents #BuildingLeaders #ChangingCommunities