A high school club is debunking barriers, promoting college attainment and gaining popularity on two local campuses.
Initiated by Chula Vista Promise Neighborhood (CVPromise) with South Bay Community Services¹ (SBCS) after school programs, Club University (Club U) kicked off this school year with 32 members at Castle Park High School and 43 members at Hilltop High School, the highest membership since the club¹s launch in January 2015.
The goal of the club is to empower students to lead the charge in building a stronger college-going culture. Club members coordinate and run school campaigns, fundraisers for university campus tours, and work hand in hand with school leadership and CVPromise.
As Club U advisors, we help support student¹s efforts by bringing together existing school resources such as the AVID program, school teachers, counselors and after school programs,” CVPromise Coordinator of Post-Secondary Programs and Club Advisor Analicia McKee said.” There is a lot of collaboration happening through Club U.”
Recently, Club U student leaders attended a weekend overnight trip to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) for a Club U Leadership Retreat. Students from Hilltop High School and Castle Park High School spent the weekend in lectures and interactive activities that helped them network, collaborate and exchange ideas on how to better help their peers, as well as parents, navigate the college system. Most of these students will be first in their families to go to college.
“I’m motivated to be the first generation to go to college, but also to do better than my parents and be more financially stable than they are,”
Andrea Parra,16, student at Castle Park High School said.
During an activity, students used post-it notes to openly share roadblocks in their lives that may impact their college journey. The post-it notes were placed on the classroom wall expressing their various fears including: lack of money, low motivation, being first in the family, low SAT/ACT scores, and uniformed parents.
Then one by one, students replaced the roadblocks with steps that they can take to address these issues and find solutions.
“It was a moving activity for these students,” McKee said. “Students were able to work together to find solutions and develop strategies for future club activities such as hosting more parent workshops to continue highlighting the importance of college and how to best support their student in the process.”
The retreat also offered a taste of the college experience. Students not only stayed in the dorms but also had an opportunity to explore the campus during a scavenger hunt. The weekend culminated with a master planning of yearly activities that include university tours, college fairs, fundraising and community service opportunities.
“I feel really excited about the direction that Club U is going in. The students have so many great ideas and are bringing lots of energy and enthusiasm into the planning process and Club meetings,” McKee said.
Chula Vista Promise Neighborhood is coordinated by South Bay Community Services and is proud to partner with Castle Park Elementary, Castle Park Middle, Castle Park High School, Hilltop Middle and Hilltop High School to bring new opportunities and pathways of success for their students and families. For more information, please visit CVPromise.org or call (619) 422-5005.
