Launched in 2002, Cal Poly Pomona's Renaissance Scholars is a comprehensive support service program located in the Division of Student Affairs that empowers current and former foster youth through higher education. This innovative program draws on Cal Poly Pomona's Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the Casey Family Programs' It's My Life Framework for Transitioning Foster Youth to provide critical services to support the scholars personal and academic success.
The program supports the holistic (academic, personal & professional) success of foster youth students. The program provides academic advising, priority registration, access to year-round housing, financial assistance (scholarships and emergency funding), peer mentoring, academic tutoring, class level success seminars, life skills workshops, educational enrichment events and community building activities.
“The guidance provided by Renaissance Scholars is essential to the survival of emancipated foster youth attending college. I believe that a program like this is important because it gives us the support and extra encouragement that we sometimes lack.”
- 3rd Year Renaissance Scholar
Renaissance Scholars - Changes lives!
Renaissance Scholars has grown from serving 10 students to serving approximately 50 students annually.
The program has graduated 95 scholars who have redefined who they are, broken the cycle of abuse or poverty, and have transformed their future. Of those, 35 alumni have gone on to pursue post-baccalaureate degrees in teaching, social work, public administration, business, law, and four who have pursued a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy, Dentistry, Law (JD) and Educational Leadership.
