Partnership with Rural Schools

A partnership with Riverdale

Riverdale is a small rural town (30 miles south of Fresno) with a 70% Latino population of 3,000. It has one high school with a graduating class of about 100 students. One student, Eduardo Gonzalez, attended the Stanford Medical Youth Science Program in 2020; inspired, he established the Medical Outreach Club at Riverdale High School.

Three people holding papers in front of a building. — College-bound Riverdale high school students receive laptops

In 2021, the club grew to 20 members. Access to Achievement Foundation provided zoom seminars on college admissions, conducted mock interviews for scholarship applicants, and provided detailed feedback on UC and private college essays and applications. Graduates that were a part of this club became highly successful; they have now graduated or are attending two and four year universities, with several students on full scholarships at UC Berkeley and other universities.

One of the largest needs of these students is a laptop computer or funds for educational expenses. Over the years Access to Achievement has provided an increasing number of computers to students planning to attend college. Each year more students have attended college and are successful students. Many return to Riverdale to mentor younger students and speak on college panels to parents who attend workshops about college admissions and financial aid. In addition, student leaders at Mi Mentor and Central Valley Scholars help guide Riverdale students, especially those who are science majors and planning on entering health professions.

A group of people standing in front of a wall. — Students celebrate new laptops with their parents and faculty

Student comments

By granting a computer not to just a few but to ALL students who have been admitted to college and who submitted an application aided us all financially. You allowed us to take one step closer to achieving our wildest ambitions and suddenly they donate feel as impossible anymore. I am eternally grateful.
– Lourdes, UC Regents and Chancellor’s Scholar, Bill Gates Millennium Scholar, senior at UC Berkeley on a full scholarship

We thank Access to Achievement for its generosity. Coming from a town where the number of cows overpopulate the number of people, it can be arduous to find your voice or feel like you can make a difference in the world.
– Rosa, attending Simpson University Nursing School on a full scholarship

A group of people on stage in front of a crowd. — Riverdale Graduation 2022: twenty-four students receive $1,000 scholarships for laptops

The positive influence that the Access to Achievement Education Foundation is grander that I alone can describe. To award all 20 of us this school scholarship is beyond generous. You have leveled out another burden for so many of us. Thank you is a bit of an understatement.
– Anisa, senior at UC Berkeley on a full scholarship

On behalf of the 20 students receiving this award, we greatly appreciate being able to share our story with you. Not only will we be receiving a laptop, but a lesson. This lesson being that our story matters. We owe this epiphany to you all.
– Eduardo, senior at Fresno State Honor’s College on a full scholarship