Summerbridge Pittsburgh aims to provide highly motivated, underresourced students access to quality educational opportunities. During their six-year tenure with the program, students are inculcated with resources to ensure that they fulfill their goals of competitive college matriculation. Our program also inspires the next generation of educators by mentoring bright, enthusiastic high school and college students through one of the most hands-on pre-professional teaching fellowships available.
Each year, Summerbridge welcomes between 30 and 35 new Grade 7 students from middle schools all across the Pittsburgh region – from Penn Hills to North Side, Mt. Oliver to Coraopolis. Likewise, each year Summerbridge brings together cohorts of teaching fellows, tutors, and volunteers to help support these students. Approximately 50 college students and volunteers proudly serve our students in their efforts to achieve their dreams of being their best academic selves and attending college.
The Summerbridge school-year program continued to make a positive impact on our students last year. Our one-on-one tutoring program at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) continued to expand, with over 50 Pitt, Duquesne University, and Sewickley Academy students serving as tutors. Our Super Saturday program continued on Sewickley Academy’s campus, culminating in a college campus visit to Pitt on the final Saturday. Our literacy initiative, #WNR “Why Not Read?” continued throughout the school-year, as middle school students utilized the library collection and exchanged books on Super Saturdays. College-bound programming highlights included SAT/ACT test prep course, FAFSA completion event, essay revision and application assistance with college-bound mentors, and College 101 workshops for families. Ninety-five percent of the Summerbridge Class of 2016 are attending college this fall at schools like Stanford University, North Carolina A&T, Temple University, Seton Hall University, Pitt, and Alabama State.
In our summer program, we continued to make positive changes in both the teacher training and student academic realms. A primary goal for teacher recruitment in 2016 was to increase the number of teaching fellows of color. Happily, we were able to realize this goal with a total of 35% teaching fellows of color, an increase of 10% from 2015. Student summer program highlights included our annual High School Options and Career Fairs, Meet-the-Teacher Night, College Visit Day at Mercyhurst College, and the addition of an SAT/ACT test prep class for juniors and seniors.
Now in its 24th year, Summerbridge Pittsburgh is dedicated to increasing opportunity for our students through college access programming, combating summer learning loss through a rigorous summer educational experience, and improving our schools through intensive teacher training. These efforts are only made possible through the shared vision and generous support of our philanthropic partners.