ABOUT COLLEGE 1ST
OUR CULTURE
INTEGRITY. EXCELLENCE. GROWTH
OUR FOCUS
CAREER EXPLORATION. COLLEGE READINESS. SUCCESS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.
OUR PURPOSE
WE EXIST TO PROVIDE THE BEST COLLEGE READINESS EXPERIENCE, BY FACILITATING CAREER EXPLORATION SESSIONS WITH ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES & MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE 1ST PROGRAM
The College 1st (First) Program is based in Mission, Texas. We strive to provide the best college readiness and career exploration student experience in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), and across the state of Texas. Our goal is for all RGV and Texas students to be ready to enroll and complete a post-secondary education in a fast-growing meaningful career of their choice.
We facilitate Career Exploration STEM, Business, and Art CAMPs for PreK-12th grade students, throughout the school year and during the summer, using project-based learning academic-enrichment activities, college and career connections, and mentorship experiences aligned with State Tests and Texas College Readiness Standards. During the CAMPs, we challenge students to put into practice their communication, collaboration, critical-thinking, and creative skills.
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We also implement Parent Engagement Sessions to promote the importance of a post-secondary education, define what college readiness really is, and engage parents in the college preparation and transition process. We implement the College 1st Program in partnership with visionary leaders from School Districts, Educational Service Centers, and Post-secondary Institutions.
Why?
We believe all students can be successful. Those who explore and design their future college and career plans early will have more time, options, and resources to become better prepared to succeed. Students can only aspire to become what they know. We exist to educate, inspire, and guide all students who want to #BeSuccessful.
How?
We partner with visionary leaders from school districts, education services centers, and post-secondary institutions who believe all their students can succeed in completing a college education and pursue a prosperous professional career.
What?
We work with students on designing their future and strive to facilitate the best college and career exploration student experience by facilitating hands-on academic enrichment activities and real-world mentorship opportunities. We give students the knowledge, skills, and guidance to accomplish their future college, career, and life goals.
About the Rio Grande Valley
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The Rio Grande Valley is home to 37 school districts with over 350,000 PreK-12 students. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 26% of high school graduates in the region enrolled in a higher education institution in the fall of 2020 compared to 63% of overall Texas high school graduates. The College 1st Program aims to help increase that number by highlighting the importance of higher education and providing students with the knowledge, skills, and guidance to accomplish their future college, career, and life goals.
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For more information about the College 1st program, please contact us at 1. 877. 499. 8544 or via email at info@college1st.org
Partnerships
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​We work in partnership with visionary leaders from school districts, education service centers, and post-secondary institutions who also believe college, career, and life success is a possibility for all their students. We establish these essential partnerships to accomplish our joint mission of preparing students for college, career, and life success.
To become a partner, contact us at info@college1st.org, or call us at
1 (877) 499.85.44. You can also send us a message here.
College 1st Program Virtual and On-Site CAMPs video
Download our latest
College 1st Program brochure
