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Silicon Valley Scholarships & Support

Founded in 1981, 10,000 Degrees has expanded to eight Bay Area counties serving more than 16,000 high school and college students each year.

Despite San Mateo and Santa Clara counties being among the most affluent in the nation, students from low-income backgrounds in this region—especially Black, Latine, and Vietnamese students—face significant barriers to college attainment. Well over half of Silicon Valley high school students are not meeting the A-G curriculum requirements to enroll in college, and there is a high percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged students—especially from low-income and BIPOC communities—in need of our support.

San Mateo County

Established in

2018

High School Participants Served Annually
462
College & Financial Aid Workshops
7
Scholarships Awarded in FY24
$ 146 K
College Students
98

Santa Clara County

Established in

2020

High School Participants Served Annually
2200
College & Financial Aid Workshops
87
Scholarships Awarded in FY24
$ 342 K
College Students
319

Partner Schools

High Schools

Andrew P. Hill High
Independence High
Overfelt High
Woodside High
Yerba Buena High

Colleges

Evergreen Valley College
De Anza College

Bring 10,000 Degrees to Your School
Contact Your Fellow

The Opportunity in Silicon Valley

Meaningful change. Lasting impact.

Despite the vast prosperity and tech innovation in Silicon Valley, not all communities have benefited from the wealth generated from decades of economic boom. Black, Latine, and Vietnamese students in this region face significant barriers to college attainment. This achievement gap perpetuates a cycle of limited opportunities and economic inequity, hindering the region’s potential for growth, innovation, and prosperity. San Jose’s East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) and Woodside High in San Mateo County are areas of particularly high need, as the troubling statistics below demonstrate.

What we do: We work directly with Santa Clara & San Mateo County students from low-income backgrounds to:

  • Foster a college-going culture
  • Introduce 2- and 4-year college pathway options
  • Assist students with college applications and enrollment
  • Help students apply for and manage free financial aid (FAFSA & CA Dream Act)
  • Provide scholarships and near-peer mentoring to successfully navigate the entire college journey
  • Offer community college transfer support
  • and more!

Our support extends to, through, and beyond college: We offer paid internships and career development opportunities through our local business partners.

San Mateo County

of San Mateo high school students are socioeconomically disadvantaged
34 %
of San Mateo high school seniors graduate without meeting the academic requirements to attend a four-year college
34 %
of San Mateo high school students did not submit applications for free financial aid
34 %

Santa Clara County

of San Jose’s East Side Union High School District students are socioeconomically disadvantaged
45 %
of high school seniors at San Jose’s East Side Union High School District graduate without meeting the academic requirements to attend a four-year college
45 %
of East Side Union High School students did not submit applications for free financial aid
27 %

Your gift to 10,000 Degrees will allow us to help more Santa Clara County students from low-income backgrounds achieve their college and career dreams.

Support Our Programs

What our partners, students, alumni, and staff have to say about 10,000 Degrees

Regional Stories

“We are proud to partner with organizations like 10,000 Degrees that work hard to create opportunities and support a college-going culture for students to ensure full participation in their schools now and in the future.”
Glenn Vander Zee
Glenn Vander Zee10,000 Degrees Silicon Valley/Peninsula Advisory Board Member
Superintendent
East Side Union High School
"Even with so much wealth and opportunity in the Bay Area, first-generation students of color continue to face systemic barriers in accessing and persisting through their postsecondary journeys. Sobrato Philanthropies is honored to partner with 10,000 Degrees. With a laser focus on equity, they provide programming for students aspiring to attend both community colleges and four-year universities, without a GPA or test score requirement."
Hana Ma
Hana Ma10,000 Degrees Silicon Valley/Peninsula Advisory Board Member
Program Officer, Postsecondary Success
Sobrato Philanthropies
"10,000 Degrees has been really helpful during my transition back to campus after the pandemic. They provided me with the right resources, and supported me emotionally by offering check in sessions, which made my transition back to campus easy and smooth. I am truly thankful for their staff and all their hard work to support everyone."
Ryan Y.
Ryan Y.10,000 Degrees Student
San Jose State University, 2023
"As a recipient of a four year scholarship from 10,000 Degrees, I’m super grateful to Carla for her support. I was on academic probation during my first two quarters in college. During our check-ins, we set up a plan for the next quarter and determined I needed to be more involved on campus and find more community in order for me to be more academically grounded. It really did help! In my 2nd year I did much better and in my 3rd year, I got all As and one B! Carla really helped set me up for success. Now I’m in my senior year and ready to graduate in the spring, many thanks to the support of 10,000 Degrees!"
Magali P.
Magali P.10,000 Degrees Alum
University of California, Riverside, 2022
“As the Director of College Access in Silicon Valley and San Francisco for our high school program, I really enjoy building on our partnerships with our school and district partners. When we provide more resources for all our school partners, it ensures that all students have equitable education opportunities, especially during these uncertain times!”
Jose Jimenez
Jose JimenezDirector Of College Access, San Francisco & Silicon Valley
"I’m proud to say that I will be one of the first in my family to attain a college degree. I feel grateful that I am in a position where I can pursue my boldest dream of graduating without any debt during my undergraduate career, and I can assure that 10,000 Degrees, its staff and the various scholarship donors generosity will never be forgotten. Thank you for your investment in the youth!"
Amanda D.
Amanda D.10,000 Degrees Alum
University of California, Santa Barbara, 2023
"My undergrad experience at UCSB ended up being some of the best years of my life full of unforgettable memories of wonderful friends, academic challenges, and irreplaceable campus experiences. All of this wouldn’t be possible if not for the scholarships 10,000 Degrees was able to provide. It let me focus more on my studies while it helped pay for my tuition and living expenses. They were incredibly supportive and although it cannot be seen clearly in the picture, I even wore the stole they sent. Thank you for all the support!"
An H.
An H.10,000 Degrees Alum
University of California, Santa Barbara, 2023
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Regional Leadership Team

Christopher Gonzales - Chief Strategy Officer in 10,000 Degrees

Christopher Gonzales

Chief Strategy Officer

Contact
Jose Jimenez - Director of College Access in San Francisco & Silicon Valley

Jose Jimenez

Director of College Access, San Francisco & Silicon Valley
Contact

Eileen Tsai

Regional Director, Silicon Valley
Contact

Peninsula & South Bay Advisory Board

Mark Adams, Co-Chair
Trish Hayward, Co-Chair
Carlos Aldana
Annastasia Bell
Lorena Chavez
Dan Drury
Meilinda Huang
Hana Ma
Alexa Pacis
Tracy Sedlock
Piyush Shah
Nikhil Sharma
Brian Thomas
Glenn Vander Zee
Shveta Venkatram
Ganesh Vishwanath

Get in Touch.

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