YMCA Y-Scholars Program

Y-Scholars Program prepares first-generation college-bound students to pursue higher education through academic achievement and career exploration.

Y-Scholars was founded in 2000 with the intention of helping close the achievement gap at Berkeley High School. Through partnerships with the Downtown Berkeley YMCA, Berkeley High School, Destination: College, UC Berkeley, and more, Y-Scholars has striven since then to provide first-generation college-bound students at Berkeley High with both academic and social support. Our program is completely free for the students and provides tutoring, weekly Academic Support Group meetings, mentoring, college and scholarship advising, and more. Our students have won prestigious scholarships such as the Gates-Millennium Scholarship and attend schools around the country, including UC Berkeley, MIT, and more! Since our first class graduated in 2004, 99% of our students have enrolled in either 2 or 4 year colleges and universities.

Some of our program events include: monthly social events, tours of local public & private colleges & universities, monthly mentor roundtable meetings, and educational family nights.

Mentors and Tutors make a 2 hour commitment per week, providing academic and social support over the course of at least one academic year. Cal students who commit a minimum of 3 hours per week can get Ed. 97/197 or E.S. 97/197 units!

Both the YMCA and Berkeley High are conveniently located near the Downtown Berkeley BART station.