Math Corps Competitors

About Access College Foundation: Founded by local philanthropists Frank Batten, Sr. and Joshua P. Darden, Jr., the Access College Foundation (www.accesscollege.org) will celebrate its 30th anniversary school year. Access College Foundation provides a path for students who may not have the opportunity to attend and complete college. With offices at 7300 Newport Avenue in Norfolk, Access has leveraged nearly $600-million in financial aid and scholarships, as well as offered guidance and support, to help 60,000 students achieve their higher education goals.

Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI) is a nonprofit organization that prepares underserved students to be the first in their families to go to college through after school programs that begin in third grade. In Barrio Logan, the community served, only one in three adults has a high school diploma and less than 3% have a bachelor's degree. In contrast, BLCI has a 100% success rate of sending graduates to college and a 90% rate of keeping them there until graduation. BLCI is unique in that it starts early, continues to support students through college, works closely with parents, and incorporates leadership skills and civic engagement within the college-prep curriculum. In 2016, BLCI won the national Example of Excelencia Award in the Community Based Organization category by Excelencia in Education, making it a model program for the nation to follow.

The mission of the Nicholas Academic Centers (NAC) is to provide support to under-served high school students to improve their academic performance, achieve their full scholarly and social potential, promote their admission to colleges and universities, retention, and graduation, and to impart the skills and knowledge necessary for them to live successful and productive lives. To fulfill its mission, the NAC implements a myriad of strategies: Academic Services that provide academic support, tutoring, and advisement throughout students’ high school years; Mentoring Services to resolve individual, familial, and community issues and conflicts, and College Access Services that provide assistance with the college application process, i.e. college matching, standardized tests, college applications, financial aid, NAC Scholarship Stipends, and college selection; and College Success Services that provides college enrollment, college retention, and college graduation support services. The NAC provides services to over 600 students every year. The majority of our students attend Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) schools. We also provide services to a small amount of Non-SAUSD students. In addition to underclassmen, the NAC provides mentoring and need-based scholarships to alumni who have graduated the centers and are enrolled in college.