Scholar Match presents college-access program; council offers recruitment support

Scholar Match representatives presented the nonprofit’s LA Scholars program to the Cudahy City Council on Jan. 20, describing services intended to help first-generation, low-income students earn a bachelor’s degree within five years.

The presenter, identified as Scholar Match’s executive director, said the nonprofit serves more than 1,000 students nationwide and that their cohort graduates at an 80% rate within five years, compared with a national five-year graduation rate of about 20% for first-generation students. The executive director described program services including individualized persistence advising, peer mentoring, and full-time advisors to support cohorts of students.

Scholar Match outlined eligibility criteria: applicants must identify as first-generation college students by the program’s definition (no parent or guardian with a U.S. four-year degree), meet income guidelines, and be LA County high school graduates planning to enroll in a two- or four-year college. Applications opened Dec. 1 and the presenter said the organization hopes to recruit up to 400 students in the region this year.

Council members thanked the presenter and offered to distribute flyers, connect Scholar Match with local high schools and youth organizations, and explore how to integrate the program into school college-center processes. The presenter specifically named an outreach coordinator, Sandra Ruiz, and asked the council to share program channels and event opportunities with the nonprofit.

The council and presenter agreed to follow up on specific school-district coordination to ease student outreach and onboarding.