Locations

Sonoma County 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. In 2009, 10,000 Degrees launched our College Access and Success programs in Sonoma County. Since then, we’ve awarded over $9 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
100
College & Financial Aid Workshops
0

Scholarships in FY23

Awarded to
$ 0.1 M
College Students
100

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

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
0 %
of Sonoma County high school seniors graduate without meeting the academic requirements to attend a four-year college
0 %
of Sonoma County high school students did not submit applications for free financial aid
0 %

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

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

Regional Stories

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

Eli Weinzveg – Director of College Pathways for Sonoma, Napa, and Lake County

Eli Weinzveg

Director of College Pathways for Sonoma, Napa, and Lake County
Katrin Ciaffa - Regional Director in Sonoma & Napa County

Katrin Ciaffa

Regional Director, Sonoma & Napa County

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

Sonoma Advisory Board

Bhupinder “Sonu” Singh Chandi, Chair
Jay Abbe
Lorez Bailey
Lisa Carreño
Amie Carter
Hector Delgado
Herb Dwight
Jane Dwight
Shelly Gomez
Mitch Greenberg
Katie Jackson
Dr. Gerald Jones
Dr. Mariana Martinez
Steve Page
James Pardieu
Monica Pelayo
Martin (Marty) Stein
Wrynn Valentine Reynoso
Janelle Walker

Get in Touch.

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