Computers and Textbooks
Most high school and college learning materials are now shared online, with tests and other assessments being conducted electronically. While almost all high schools and colleges have libraries that lend textbooks and computer labs for student use, textbooks are often in limited supply, and computer labs are often only open for a limited amount of hours.
As a result, being unable to afford a laptop or textbooks can become a major academic impediment for low-income students, especially those who work to support their schooling. This becomes more serious as the students continue on to college and cannot afford a laptop computer.
We fund these materials for qualifying students to remove these barriers and level the academic playing field.
Books for Molly, a natural science major at U.C. Merced, and now a Ph.D. from University of Alabama
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Thank you for the wonderful gift of college books for my first year of undergrad. I was barely able to afford gas to get to UC Merced from Sacramento, so I had no extra money for textbooks.
-Molly
I’m excited to tell you I received a B on my first math midterm and 100% on my chemistry midterm. I love college!
Molly has earned a PhD in biomedical sciences at the University of Alabama after graduating from U.C. Merced with a degree in the natural sciences. While an undergraduate student, she became fluent in Spanish and spent one year studying at the University of Barcelona and traveling throughout Europe. When she boarded the airplane in San Francisco for Spain, it was her first time on an airplane. She has numerous published scientific papers, is completing a postdoctoral fellowship at USC and is looking forward to a career in the biomedical field.
A computer for a collegebound rural student
This student is attending college in Los Angeles. While in high school, her undocumented parents were arrested while working and sent back to Mexico, leaving her and her two younger siblings to live on their own.
I need a computer because it will help me out so much with my next steps in attending college. My first experience with college and not having a computer was awful. I would take the bus to the public library, often alone and late at night, and wait several hours for an unoccupied computer. Being awarded a computer will help me complete my assignments thoughtfully instead of rushing because someone else is waiting to use the public computer. I will have the time to correct everything and look at every letter and make sure I have given my assignment my best effort.
– anonymous student
This student graduated from her two-year community college and is working as an allied health professional.
A computer for Devynn, a health sciences graduate student at University of North Texas, now a Dr.PH. in epidemiology
Devynn is the Community Health Equity Academy Director and Instructor at Castlemont High School in Oakland, CA. He teaches health-related and DEI (diversity, inclusion, and equity) courses.
In every person’s life there is a proverbial fork in the road that each individual must take and take alone. Along this journey we find resources and mentors to support us in our quest to reach our goals.
– Devynn
In my case, I found the Access to Achievement Education Foundation. I was awarded a laptop computer for my graduate studies in epidemiology. Preparing for school was a challenging task as I have no parents or siblings who are still living. The support from Access to Achievement has taken a tremendous weight off my shoulders. The ability to get work done without waiting hours for a computer at school has helped me reach my full potential as a student, researcher, and graduate instructor.
Computers for first-generation collegebound AVID students at Los Altos High School, CA
We donated six laptops for students at Los Altos High School who were in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). This is a global nonprofit organization that is dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other postsecondary opportunities. Today, AVID impacts more than 800,000 students in 44 states and 16 other countries/territories.
In several of the school programs we fund, AVID students are near-peer mentors to high risk younger middle school students.
Application excerpts from AVID students
Last year, my parents made $27,900, so money is tight around our home. I work babysitting so I can help my family buy groceries. Any old clothing I don't use, I sell online and give that money to my parents. I asked my parents if there was any way we could afford a computer but they've said no; they need to pay our rent and bills. Even though it is a challenge for me to do my school work on a cell phone, I would rather help my family pay bills than be selfish and have them buy me a computer.
Having no computer stresses me. If the school library is closed, I ask a friend to lend me their computer for an hour or so. If they can't lend me their computer, I come to school at 7 am and use the library's computers which means leaving home at 6 am and rushing to school, so that I at least can use a computer there.