This summer, Breakthrough students took part in a five-week Summer Academy designed to help them learn, discover new academic interests, and connect with a community that cares deeply about their well-being. Our summer curriculum provided 60 hours of virtual instruction centered on supporting student and family well-being, developing academic competencies for success in middle school and high school, building community and authentic connections, and engaging students in meaningful activities that build experiential capital and support their goal of becoming first-generation college graduates. This year’s program was also designed to respond to the pandemic’s impact on our community, helping students successfully re-enter their school setting this fall and recover academically and social/emotionally as they rebound from the disruption of the last school year.

Coursework was led by motivating, college-aged AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows from across the country who dedicated a summer of service to inspiring students toward their educational dreams.

Complimenting this programming, advisors provided intensive, personalized support. Through a referral network and formal partnerships as well as a Student Support Fund, Breakthrough connects families to resources as needed, including professional counseling, housing support, legal services, technology and internet access, and funds for emergency basic needs.

Each student also received a “BT in a Box” care package to let them know they are connected and cared for by their Breakthrough family. From school supplies to their community novel, a STEM kit, student-designed t-shirt and more, students put their care packages to good use this summer!

Super School Olympics

My Pathways Week

More than 100 middle school students and 40 Teaching Fellows attended this in-person field trip to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, taking part in a friendly competition to test their college knowledge. Students created a college video with fun facts about the school, a chant, and all kinds of college spirit. Afterward, they competed in events Olympics-style, such as Anagram Puzzles, Breakthrough Jeopardy, Water Balloon Toss, and many more!

Students explored their own pathways to success by hearing from high school and college students, as well as career professionals. More than 33 volunteers presented on their profession and career path, sharing  inspiring messages and advice. Because of our incredible volunteers, we were able to help our students broaden their perspective on career opportunities possible to them with a college education.

Leveraging our long-standing position as a successful AmeriCorps program, Breakthrough Central Texas applied for and received approval to host Breakthrough Houston as they bring the valuable asset of AmeriCorps to their own Summer Academy. With this expansion, 102 AmeriCorps members served as Teaching Fellows for Houston middle school students this past summer.

We are thrilled to partner with Breakthrough Houston to make a bigger impact on Texas and support more young people to become change-makers through service.

10th Grade Leadership Institute  

Students attended a summer institute focused on developing communication, self advocacy, and leadership skills by identifying goals that will help them on their path to college, learning about their rights as young people with the University of Texas Law School, and exploring potential careers.

11th Grade Professional Institute 

Students took part in a number of workshops exploring career and college majors, learning about postsecondary options, building resumes, practicing important skills aligned with their career interests, learning skills that support their mental health, and engaging in internships around the community. 

Incoming Freshmen 

Our College Completion Team helped our largest-ever graduating class transition to their first semester of college. A key focus was combatting enrollment melt, a phenomenon where students accepted to college do not attend in the fall. Advisors coordinated enrollment steps and provided the encouragement to help students maintain their identity as college goers despite the uncertainty of the moment. In early July, Breakthrough hosted “Thrive Summit,” a week-long virtual retreat where students heard from other Breakthrough college students about their first year in college, connected with representatives from universities around Texas, and engaged in workshops around financial literacy, healthy choices, and what it means to be a first-generation college student.

Breakthrough college freshmen at Zip Lost Pines on their final day of the Thrive Summit

Sophomores

The College Completion Team made concerted advising efforts to encourage student retention and persistence, and, ultimately, prevent the sophomore slump.  The goals this summer were to support students in major and school changes, hold individual sessions to isolate future needs, and assist students in finding additional avenues of student engagement at their university.

3M
AMD
Atlassian
City of Austin Public Health
FactSet

Harman-Mayes-Sooch Family Fund
HEB
Long Foundation
Maximus Foundation
Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation