See Scholars’ Reflections on the College Tour; Come to Culmination!
Dear MOSTe Family,
Thanks again to everyone who supported our 2022 Lanterns Awards! It was so wonderful to gather together, both in person and online, and hear from our inspiring honorees. Sharing warm hugs at the Gardens helped us withstand the chilly breeze, and the event raised over $44,000 to support ongoing programs at MOSTe. We are grateful to you all!
Spring is a busy time for our Scholars, with finals, APs, other testing, and college decisions for our graduating seniors. We’re looking forward to giving them a well-earned break at our Beach Adventure Day this Saturday.
All are invited to attend our Culmination Ceremony on June 11th, to celebrate our graduating 8th graders, 12th graders, college graduates, and even grad school graduates! The event will be outdoors at USC, and tickets are available here. Join us!
Onwards,
Amy Ludwig
Executive Director
MOSTe In Action
Bay Area College Trip
MOSTe 11th grade scholars participated in a week-long Bay Area College trip! Escorted by Bri and Naima with the support of mentor Christa, scholars visited UCSF, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, San Jose State and Stanford. Thank you to all of our amazing student volunteers who led the tours at the different campuses throughout the week. Scholars asked questions, visited resource centers, chatted with current and former students and got a glimpse of classrooms and student housing on campus. MOSTe alumni and current UC Berkeley student Valerie led the Berkeley college tour, and opened up about the rollercoaster that is the college experience!
Val, Cal ’24, and the MOSTe tour group.
Some student reflections on their time in the Bay:
“This trip has opened my eyes to what college life is really like. I had never been on an actual campus tour, so I was able to experience real life connections with some of these schools and that gave me a better idea of where my best fit is. After this trip I can now get a feel for what I do and don’t like in a college, and I know for sure I wouldn’t have been able to gain that sense of clarity online or virtually.” – Sophie C.
“Being away this week made me reflect on how I would feel leaving my family, and if I was even willing to leave to a college this far. This trip has very well opened my eyes, and yes I would love to come to a school out here. One that I have in mind is SJSU.” – Kassandra S.
“I really had time to reflect on what my ideal college experience is. I got to decide what kind of campus I want to spend my time in, but also what kind of campus didn’t suit me. I also got to see which campuses would fit my needs academically and emotionally.” – Emily C.
Financial Literacy with Union Bank
Facilitators from the Union Bank Magnolia Place Financial Education Center met with MOSTe students to lead a Financial Literacy workshop! Students learned what to consider when making smart financial decisions, along with the ins and outs of the banking system. We are grateful to our partnership with Union Bank for making financial literacy accessible to our students.
“Tending to Our Light”
Scholars share their experiences of the past two years in the beautiful video for Lanterns, made by filmmakers Letxia Cordova and Yesenia De Casas. Watch it now!
College and Alumnae News
Congratulations!
We are so proud of Karla R., Lycoming College ’20, who just earned her M.A. in International Development from the School of International Service at American University. Her studies concentrated on Governance, Security, and Migration, with a regional focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.
“I did that! ” says Karla!
Mentor Moment
“We went to the Lanterns Awards together, and on another check-in we had donuts and fun conversations at the Original Farmer’s Market! Andrea got accepted into the YED program at Cedars Sinai, allowing her to gain exposure and experience in the medical field!” – Mentor Isabel C.
“We visited the Norton Simon Museum together!”
– Mentor Melissa I.
“My mentee and I got sushi and then went to try a new boba place. We also went into a cool Korean makeup/market store!” –Mentor Nelly H.
“In late March, Hailey won a three-point shootout competing against all boys. Adriana is doing a summer abroad study program in London, England!” – Mentor Stacy C.