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Sonoma County Scholarships & Support

Founded in 1981, 10,000 Degrees now reaches more than 16,000 students and alumni each year across the Bay Area. In 2009, 10,000 Degrees launched our College Access and Success programs in Sonoma County. Since then, we’ve awarded over $11 million in scholarships to Sonoma County students from low-income backgrounds. Today, we support more than 3,100 Sonoma high school and college students annually. Our local impact includes near-peer mentoring, financial aid advising, scholarships, and college matriculation support at 11 high schools, as well as at Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College.

Established in

2009

High School Students Served Annually

High School Participants
2794
College & Financial Aid Workshops
303

Scholarships in FY25

Awarded to
$ 1.2 M
College Students
982

Partner Schools

High Schools

Casa Grande High
Creekside High
Elsie Allen High
Hanna Academy
Healdsburg High
Laguna High
Petaluma High
Piner High
Rancho Cotate High
Santa Rosa High
Sonoma Valley High

Colleges

Santa Rosa Junior College
Sonoma State University

Bring 10,000 Degrees to Your School
Contact Your Fellow

The Opportunity in Sonoma County

Meaningful change. Lasting impact.

Nestled between vineyards, redwoods, and the Pacific Ocean, Sonoma County is a beautiful and desirable place to live and work. And yet, years of devastating disasters—fires, floods, and the pandemic—along with a struggling economy have exacerbated educational and economic inequities.

The 2021 Portrait of Sonoma Update shows disparate educational outcomes for Black, Latine and Native American residents. In the annual Youth Truth survey, Sonoma County high school students consistently report feeling less prepared for college and career than their national peers, as the troubling statistics at right demonstrate.

What we do: We work directly with Sonoma 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.

of Sonoma County high school students are socioeconomically disadvantaged
51 %
of Sonoma County high school seniors graduate without meeting the academic requirements to attend a four-year college
42 %
of Sonoma County high school students did not submit applications for free financial aid
47 %

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

Support Our Program

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

Regional Stories

"As a longtime school administrator in Sonoma and Marin counties, I have been blown away by 10,000 Degrees’ commitment to advancing equitable outcomes for all students as well as the sheer breadth of their work. As Sonoma County’s new superintendent of schools, I look forward to deepening our partnership on behalf of Sonoma County’s young people."
Dr. Amie Carter
Dr. Amie CarterEd.D. Superintendent of Schools
Sonoma County Office of Education
"From providing professional development for staff to directly assisting families and students with the financial aid application process, 10,000 Degrees has been an outstanding resource. Their partnership has been instrumental in providing the support needed for students to get to and through college and achieve their career goals."
Debi CardozoDirector, Career Technical Education
Santa Rosa City Schools
"With 10,000 Degrees, I love how much engagement we provide through the Fellows, as well as putting a focus on career success. The staff are able to help students go to and finish college. That really exposes the students to be able to do more and have more opportunities. We have to continue to build a quality workforce, and that starts with a college education."
Bhupinder "Sonu" Singh Chandi
Bhupinder "Sonu" Singh Chandi10,000 Degrees Board Member & Sonoma Advisory Board Chair
Supporter & Donor since 2016
"The North Bay Business Journal is proud to support 10,000 Degrees and their long-standing mission to provide robust post-secondary educational opportunities, resources and support for students. It is critical to educate and assist our next generation of youth in realizing their full potential as they will be future leaders in their communities and our world."
Lorez Bailey
Lorez BaileyPublisher, North Bay Business Journal
10,000 Degrees Sonoma Advisory Board Member
"I used to be very discouraged about going to college, I felt like I wasn’t good enough and didn’t know how to pay for it. With 10,000 Degrees, they really had my back. I feel more goal-oriented and have a blueprint now of how I see my future. I feel like my dedication is an achievement and I was able to get there because of 10,000 Degrees."
Britney N.
Britney N.10,000 Degrees Student
University of California, Davis, 2024
Santa Rosa Junior College, 2022
"10,000 Degrees has been with me on this journey since high school. They paired me with great mentors willing to guide me to succeed. 10,000 Degrees started as just a program, but now I see them more as a family willing to go above and beyond not only from an academic sense but also all around character development. Looking back now I was fortunate enough to have support from my fellow/mentor, which inspired me to give back by advocating as a Fellow. This is a new step in my academic journey and I am still learning and growing with help from my colleagues and the organization. Thank you all for the support as I venture on to the next chapter of my life."
Tashi J. Sherpa
Tashi J. Sherpa10,000 Degrees Fellow & Alum
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 2021
"My experience with 10,000 Degrees can be best described in two words: Life changing."
Oscar V.C.
Oscar V.C.10,000 Degrees Alum
University of California, Riverside, 2022
"As a first-generation college student, 10,000 Degrees made it possible for me to pursue a career within the tech industry by offering support in various ways going into and throughout college. Support in applications, job/internship opportunities, and workshops are crucial for any student to be successful. With that support, I was able to acquire a job opportunity with Keysight Technologies with their interferometry products and am grateful I am in a company that shows value to employees’ growth."
Eduardo G.R.10,000 Degrees Alum
Cal Poly Pomona, 2021
Manufacturing Engineer, Keysight Technologies

Student Stories​

Sonoma County, Student Interview
Sonoma County, Student Interview

Regional Leadership Team

Christopher Gonzales - Chief Strategy Officer in 10,000 Degrees

Christopher Gonzales

Chief Strategy Officer

Contact

Hugo Que

Senior Director, College Access

Contact
Katrin Ciaffa - Regional Director in Sonoma & Napa County

Katrin Ciaffa

Regional Director, Sonoma & Napa County
Contact

Sonoma Regional Office
120 Stony Point Road, Suite 150
Santa Rosa, 95401

Sonoma County Founders Circle

Gifts of $100,000+ for 10,000 Degrees in Sonoma County

Thank you to these generous donors who were responsible for our expansion into Sonoma County in 2009! Your loyal support is making a difference for thousands of students and their families in Sonoma County.

Jay & Kären Abbe

Herbert & Jane Dwight

Jackson Family Wines, Inc.

John Jordan Foundation

St. Joseph Health, Sonoma County

Sonoma Board of Supervisors

Sonoma County Office of Education

Sonoma Department of Health Services

Marty & Marlene Stein

United Way of the Wine Country

Sonoma Advisory Board

Bhupinder “Sonu” Singh Chandi, Chair
Jay Abbe
Lorez Bailey
Lisa Carreño
Dr. Amie Carter
Hector Delgado
Herb Dwight
Mitch Greenberg
Katie Jackson
Dr. Gerald Jones
Dr. Mariana Martinez
Dr. Darlene G. Miller
Steve Page
James Pardieu
Marty Stein
Ruby Steinbrecher
Wrynn Valentine Reynoso
Janelle Walker
Dr. Sara Zeff Geber

Get in Touch.

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