About Us
Fellowship Program
Our Fellows Lead the Way
Nothing is more powerful for our students than hearing, “we believe you can do it,” from a near-peer mentor. At 10,000 Degrees, those mentors are our Fellows.
The 10,000 Degrees Fellowship is an integral part of the 10,000 Degrees model and mission to support students from low-income backgrounds to and through college—and beyond—to positively impact their communities and the world. The students we serve are 100% from low-income communities; 92% are Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian Pacific Islander, and People of Color; and 93% are first in their family to go to college.
As recent graduates and mostly 10,000 Degrees alumni, Fellows connect meaningfully with students through their shared experiences, content expertise, and unwavering belief in the potential of every student.
Providing Direct Support
Along with our Scholarship Program, 10,000 Degrees Fellows provide the most direct support to our students, assisting them with:
- Accessing and succeeding in college and the workforce
- Applying for the 10,000 Degrees Scholarship
- Applying for financial aid
- Facilitating college readiness and success workshops for students and families
- Representing the organization alongside the development team at fundraising events
- And more!
Professional Development for Fellows
10,000 Degrees Fellowships are a 3-year commitment. All Fellows receive three years of continuing professional development to support their professional growth and career possibilities after the program. They receive a robust series of trainings on critical college access focus areas to best support students in their journey to their post-secondary pathway. Fellows also attend local, statewide, and national college access/success conferences to stay up to date on key financial aid and college application updates, learnings, and best practices.
Interested in becoming a Fellow? View our career opportunities!
Fellows are trained on the following:
- Workshop facilitation
- Strategic outreach strategies for students, families & school partners
- Financial aid (both FAFSA and CADAA)
- Best practices for supporting underrepresented students (e.g., undocumented students, foster youth, homeless students, ELL & newcomer students)
- Scholarships
- College applications
- Strength-based student support practices
- School system navigation & referrals
- Building in-school partnerships
- Data-driven decision-making for student success