El Paso
Prospective Students & Families
The Challenge Foundation empowers motivated and engaged students from underserved populations who aspire to attend college. We seek students with high aptitude, strong work ethic and attendance, whose families demonstrate significant financial need and a commitment to education. Our competitive admission process evaluates each applicant and their family holistically.
The application period runs from January of 4th grade through March of 5th grade. To be eligible, students must show a strong commitment to their education, a desire to attend college, and support from their family. Once selected, scholars receive full-tuition scholarships and individualized, wraparound support services from 6th grade through college including but not limited to:
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Academic Support: Tutoring, as needed, and mentoring
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College Readiness: Summer programs and college application guidance
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Emotional/Social Learning: Assigned mentor, referral and access to counseling services, and check-ins with an advisor
We partner closely with schools to ensure our Scholars receive the best possible education and support.
Due to high demand, the application process is competitive, and we are dedicated to a thoughtful review of each candidate.
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Student must be currently enrolled in 4th grade
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Student must enjoy and be doing well in school and perform at or above grade level on standardized tests
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Family must be able to provide transportation to and from school
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Family is supportive and actively engaged in student's education
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Student is motivated to attend college and family is supportive of higher education
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Financial need is assessed as part of the comprehensive review process
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Student must be comfortable with learning in English
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Nomination: Students are nominated in 4th grade by parents, teachers, school administrators, or community members.
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Informational Meeting: Families attend a meeting to learn more about the program, timeline, and expectations.
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Application and Initial Assessment: Families submit parent and student applications detailing their educational, familial, and financial background. Candidates are initially assessed in reading.
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Application Camp: Applicants participate in mandatory individual and group activities at an application camp. Further assessments are conducted in reading, math, and language skills.
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Family Interview: Parents or legal guardians meet with staff to discuss program requirements and provide insights into family dynamics and support.
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Home Visit: Staff conduct individual home visits to understand the student's home environment.
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Final Selection: Staff conduct a holistic and thoughtful review of all applicants to determine scholarship recipients.
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Who applies for the scholarship? The Challenge Foundation Scholarship is for hardworking and intelligent students in 4th grade from underserved communities. It's designed for students whose families demonstrate financial need and a strong commitment to education. We seek students who are highly motivated to learn and excel in their studies.
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How are parents involved? Parental support is crucial for our Scholars' success. We look for families who are enthusiastic about this opportunity and actively prioritize their child's education. Parents play a key role in their child's academic journey and are involved throughout the program.
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Is transportation provided? Transportation is not provided. Families must be able to provide their own transportation
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Are students asked to pay any money? The Challenge Foundation covers tuition and associated costs. There may be minor additional expenses similar to those encountered in public schools, such as school supplies.
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Are students required to wear uniforms? Our partner school requires a uniform. The Challenge Foundation assists with the cost of uniforms for our Scholars.
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If a student is not accepted, can they reapply in the future? Due to the program's structure, students can only apply during 4th grade.
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Who should I contact if I have more questions? For further information, please feel free to contact The Challenge Foundation Staff by email at elpaso@thechallengefoundation.org.
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