MARCH 2026 NEWSLETTER

“Working with my RTE students has been even more rewarding than I imagined. They are brave, interesting, kind, and committed to their educational goals. I enjoy puzzling through challenges with them, and celebrating their successes. I look forward to watching them complete college and launch into careers such as veterinary medicine, video game design, and airline mechanics. It is a privilege and a joy to be part of their lives and this special program.”

— Adelaide Roberts, RTE Mentor

IN HER OWN WORDS: CELIA GUEVARA

Hear Celia Guevara, Paly Class of 2025, talk about her high school experience, adjusting to college, and how RTE is making a difference in her life. Watch here.

STUDENT PROFILE: JOHANN GARCIA

Johann García, Cal State Dominguez Hills - English Major

Read the entire interview with Johann García (Paly Class of 2024) HERE.

Q: Which teachers or administrators at Paly were particularly helpful?

A: One particularly helpful teacher at Paly was Lucy Filppu, whom I had for English 10A and Writer’s Craft. She was such an incredible teacher; I have fond memories of the lessons she taught, the books we read, and the amazing projects we did. The Writer’s Craft class she taught was one of the best classes I took - thanks to her vivid personality. She was my favorite English teacher at Paly.

Q: What type of guidance do you get from your RTE mentor?

A: The guidance I get from my mentor, Adelaide Roberts, is very comforting as she’s someone I can talk to, not just about academics, but also about life in general. She is always there for me when I need her, and I’m so glad I’ve gotten to know her. I feel so lucky to have someone like her and an organization like RTE to help guide me throughout my college journey.

GEARING UP FOR THE PALY CLASS OF 2026! MENTORS NEEDED!

New Scholar Orientation with Mentors in May 2025

We are looking forward to welcoming our next cohort of RTE scholars and congratulating NINE college graduates this spring! Every year, eligible graduating seniors apply via the Paly Community Scholarship Program, and a committee of Paly faculty and administrators works to ensure that students with the greatest financial need (generally first-generation college students) are selected. But we need MORE MENTORS! 

Research shows that mentees generally perform better in their academic programs and after they get out of school than students without mentors, according to W. Brad Johnson, PhD, a psychology professor at the U.S. Naval Academy and author of several books about mentoring. "Students tend to get tied into the mentor's network of colleagues, and that creates more open doors." From the article The Lifelong Benefits of Mentoring.

If you are interested in being a mentor like Adelaide Roberts (quoted above), please email RTE President Tida Violante at <info@risetogethered.org>.

IN THE NEWS: FUNDING CUTS, SHIFTS IN AID COULD MAKE COLLEGE HARDER TO AFFORD FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

This recently published article in the Hechinger Report, describes how many factors intersect to make it harder for low-income students to attend college. Under the Trump Administration, the Department of Education proposed cutting off funding for programs that help low-income students because they were considered part of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

“At a time of rising income inequality, it’s one of several developments advocates worry are converging to make things even harder for lower-income Americans who want to go to and get through college — a group that already faces considerable challenges, and whose proportion of enrollment has been falling for a decade and a half.”

The article underscores the importance of organizations like RTE, which work to bridge the gap so that a college education is available to all students, regardless of financial background.

PALY STUDENTS - VOLUNTEER WITH US!

We are recruiting Paly Student Representatives for the next school year! Meet our current Student Representatives who have helped grow our organization and learned more about nonprofit management. Find the job description and deadline HERE.