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University Initiatives
Date March 31, 2025
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Lynda Curtis
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For Brown Collegiate Scholars, a year of learning, growth and early college preparation

Members of the college-prep program’s inaugural cohort are gaining academic skills and confidence on their four-year path toward admission to and success in college.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — It might have been a cold, cloudy Saturday in late March, but for a group of local high schoolers, it was a glimpse into a bright, promising future.

As part of the Brown Collegiate Scholars Program, more than 25 Providence Public School District students and their families traveled an hour-plus to visit the University of Connecticut, where they toured campus buildings, ate in dining halls, explored the recreation center and connected with undergraduate guides — all to get a firsthand look at college life. The trip marked their second college visit this academic year. Last fall, they explored College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, expanding their sense of what different campuses offer.

But visits to other schools are just one piece of the Brown University-based multi-year college-preparation program, which launched last summer with its first cohort. Beginning before high school and continuing through graduation, the Brown Collegiate Scholars Program supports cohorts of PPSD students at every stage of the college preparation process — from establishing a foundation for academic success and exploring interests to preparing for college entrance exams, navigating financial aid and planning for residential life on campus.

Nick Figueroa, director of the Brown Collegiate Scholars Program, said the first year of the four-year program is all about helping students adjust to high school while introducing them to the possibilities ahead. 

Providence high schoolers visit UConn for a campus tour.
On a Saturday in late March, the Brown Collegiate Scholars toured the University of Connecticut together with their families. Courtesy of Brown Collegiate Scholars Program. 

“To get them thinking about their own path to college, we focus on exploring interests, building confidence and strengthening the academic skills they’ll need to succeed,” Figueroa said. “We see tremendous potential in this first cohort and are committed to nurturing and supporting that potential — helping them realize their college aspirations and ensuring they have the resources to achieve their degree attainment goals.”

After launching their four-year journey as scholars with a month-long program in July 2024, students returned to campus in October to continue year-round programming. Their weekly schedule includes one-on-one tutoring, advising, mentorship and group workshops designed to strengthen academic skills and college readiness and engage families in the college admissions process. 

During the school year, scholars have access to a dedicated study space on Brown’s campus at 225 Dyer St. Each weekday, undergraduates with the Brown Tutoring Corps are stationed throughout to provide homework help, offering support across a range of subjects, including history, math, science and English, as well as French, Italian and Spanish. Some tutors are bilingual, providing additional support for Spanish-speaking students.

Brown Collegiate Scholars program advisor Gizzelle Fernandez, who serves as a dedicated adviser for the first cohort, said the drop-in tutoring model is flexible and designed to meet the high schoolers’ unique needs. 

“We encourage students to use tutoring in a way that works best for them,” Fernandez said. “If they have a test, tutors can help review study materials or create flashcards. If there’s no test, tutors will assist with homework, whether it’s going over a history worksheet, working through algebra problems or proofreading an essay. The goal is to tailor tutoring to meet whatever academic support they need.”

PPSD students work together on campus in the dedicated study space provided for scholars in the Brown Collegiate Scholars Program.
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Local high schoolers Mayibel Hernandez and Timi Pelelua work together in the program’s dedicated study space, a welcoming hub stocked with snacks, comfortable seating and a library of books for personal reading.

A brown student tutors a local high school on algebra using an iPad.
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On weekday afternoons throughout the academic year, Brown undergraduates are stationed throughout the space to provide scholars homework help, offering support across a range of subjects, including history, math, science and English.

parents come together on campus in October to learn more about the program's schedule.
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The program also actively engages parents and guardians. In a fall workshop, families receive an overview of the year’s schedule and explore strategies to support their students on the path to college. Courtesy of Brown Collegiate Scholars.

Classical High School student Timi Pelelua said the transition from middle to high school was challenging, but the support she received through tutoring has made a difference. With the extra support, the ninth-grader said she improved her history grade from a C- to a B+ this year.

“Having access to tutoring has made a big impact,” Pelelua said. “When I don’t understand something, the tutors break it down in a way that makes sense. It has improved my confidence in my schoolwork and led to real improvements in my grades.”

Outside of tutoring, the bright, open space offers snacks, comfortable seating and a library of books for personal reading, making it a hub for both academic and social engagement. According to Fernandez, some students are in the space nearly every day, using it not just for tutoring and study sessions but also for independent work and socializing with peers. 

Guidance, growth and goals 

The space at Brown also features small offices, allowing each scholar to meet one-on-one with Fernandez twice a month. In the first year of the program, she said advising sessions are designed to equip students with essential skills for both academic success and personal growth. In the first few months, she focused on helping students understand the importance of academic planning, time management, organizational skills and effective study techniques. During each session, they work together to identify one area of success and one area for improvement, encouraging self-reflection and setting achievable goals, she said. 

Other advising sessions covered key life skills such as self-advocacy and goal-setting, addressing common challenges such as procrastination and strategies to overcome it, and helping students build a growth mindset by reframing challenges as opportunities. 

Fernandez wants students to know she’s in their corner. 

"I want students to see me as someone who celebrates their successes,” Fernandez said. “Yes, we’ll talk about school, grades and all that tough stuff, but we’ll also laugh, joke and talk about their favorite music or what they’re looking forward to. Building that connection is important. I want them to know I’m here to keep them on track, hold them accountable and notice when something’s off — but I’m also here to get to know them, support them and help them grow."

brown staff members sits with his mentee, a local high schooler.
As a mentor, Brown staff member Josh Corria meets monthly with Classical High School student Jean Santos. Courtesy of Brown Collegiate Scholars Program. 

Since January, scholars have started to meet monthly with their mentors — 30 Brown faculty and staff members who have volunteered to work with students in the cohort, representing a wide variety of units across the University, from Brown Athletics and the Division of Campus Life to the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, Office of Government Relations and the Warren Alpert Medical School. Before being paired, each scholar and mentor completed a questionnaire to match them based on shared interests, personality, communication style and academic or career aspirations.

As a Providence native, Josh Corria, assistant director of city relations, was motivated to become a mentor for the opportunity to work directly with local high schoolers, he said. 

"I believe Brown's faculty and staff can be great role models for local teens,” Corria said. “As mentors, our goal is to engage and motivate them in a meaningful way while exposing them to new ideas, opportunities for growth and valuable networks of support. I’m excited for what’s ahead."

As the inaugural cohort completes their first year of high school this spring, program leaders are preparing to welcome the next group this summer, and they will continue to add a new cohort of approximately 30 students each summer moving forward.

Fernandez hopes that as scholars look back on their first full year in the program, they leave with new knowledge and practical skills they can carry forward.

"I hope that by the end of the school year, students have new, tangible strategies they can rely on when they face challenges,” Fernandez said. “Maybe it’s using a homework tracker or another tool we’ve discussed — something they know works for them and can continue to use. The goal is for them to keep building on these skills throughout high school, gaining confidence and independence along the way.”

Tags
Brown and Providence

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