Mid-Year Impact Report Summer 2025
A Note from Our Executive Director
Dear Friends,
As we pass the halfway point in an exciting and turbulent year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our supporters for your continued belief in Mission Scholars and in the students we serve.
With your support, 2025 has already become a milestone year for our organization: after a long, difficult process, Mission Scholars has officially achieved independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. We are deeply grateful to the Santa Barbara Education Foundation for serving as our fiscal sponsor and tireless champion over the past five years.
This summer, we celebrate the Class of 2025 high school and college graduates—trailblazers who are forging bold new paths for themselves, their families, and their community. Their extraordinary accomplishments reflect the drive, talent, and resilience that define all the students in our organization.
Our volunteers, partners, and benefactors are the heart of the work we do. Your dedication to our mission is what propels us to every milestone we reach—and we’re just getting started. As we look ahead to the second half of 2025, we remain mindful of how fortunate we are to have you with us on this important journey.
With appreciation,
Cassie Lancaster,
Executive Director
Program Impact
Highlights from the 2024-25 Academic Year
College Acceptances
Mission Scholars guided 29 high school seniors through a rigorous college application process. Students attended weekly workshops and met individually with volunteer essay coaches to strengthen their college essays. As a result, this spring, they earned a combined total of 251 college acceptances. 100% of our Class of 2025 high school graduates will attend four-year universities this fall—including Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSB, Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Northeastern, and others.
College Affordability
Thanks to our College Affordability team, we achieved a 100% FAFSA and California Dream Act submission rate for the Class of 2025. Each Scholar received personalized support to access hundreds of local and national scholarships, along with an intensive financial aid review to ensure their families understood the true cost of attendance before making final decisions. As a result, 92% of their college costs will be covered by scholarships and grants, with more than half of our Scholars receiving full rides—including our three QuestBridge Scholars headed to Stanford, Macalester, and Smith.
College Planning
- 27 high school juniors took part in semi-monthly workshops and had access to one-on-one advising focused on academic planning, college lists, and summer opportunities.
- 4 juniors earned full scholarships to attend UCSB’s prestigious Summer Research Academies.
- 35 newly selected sophomores began monthly programming to build strong academic profiles and explore key interests—early support that ensures they will be highly competitive college applicants by senior year.
College Success
Our college Scholars thrived academically and took on leadership roles as ambassadors, club presidents, first-gen leaders, research assistants, and more. This is thanks in large part to our volunteer College Coaches, who provide mentorship and guidance throughout our Scholars’ college journeys, and to Mission Scholars alumni who returned to lead College Success workshops and College Coach trainings, reinforcing our “pay-it-forward” culture of peer support and community engagement.
From College to Career
Thanks to Mission Scholars’ professional development workshops and one-on-one internship support, our students are making powerful strides toward career success:
- 89% of current college Scholars secured summer 2025 jobs or internships.
- 88% of Class of 2024 alumni are now employed or pursuing graduate or professional degrees.
Alumni Highlight
Following his graduation from UC Berkeley with a major in Environmental Economics and Policy, Sebastian is now launching his professional career as a full-time Analyst at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in New York, leveraging the skills, experience, and connections gained during an internship at SMBC his junior year.
“Mission Scholars has been instrumental in shaping my academic and professional journey, providing invaluable support every step of the way. The guidance I received from Mission Scholars empowered me to pursue my ambitions and led to the opportunities I have today.”
– Sebastian Harris, UC Berkeley ’25
Looking Ahead
Expanding Our Impact
This Fall:
- 100+ college Scholars will receive mentorship, academic advising, leadership training, and professional development.
- 60 high school juniors and seniors will immerse themselves in workshops on college applications and essays, financial aid, and planning.
- 40 high school sophomores will be selected to join the Mission Scholars Class of 2028.
- Family programming workshops will engage and empower parents, extending our impact across the broader community.
You play a vital role in the Mission Scholars community, making our success possible through volunteering, mentoring, sharing our students’ stories, and advocating for internships at local companies.
Thank you for helping us achieve our mission and grow our reach.