The University of Utah First Star Academy
is a long-term, intensive college preparatory program for youth in foster care.
First Star scholars come from a diverse array of backgrounds, but all share the thread of traumatic life histories that have cut childhood short and posed enormous barriers to education.
Nationally, less than 50% of youth in foster care will graduate high school, and less than 3% will enroll in college.
During our monthly Saturday Academies and month-long residential Summer Academies, First Star focuses on academics, life skills, self-advocacy and caregiver engagement. First Star scholars live on the University of Utah campus for one month every summer for all four summers of high school.
For students who participate in First Star Academies, 98% of scholars graduate high school and 88% enroll in college.
As of July 2020, First Star serves 20 youth who have completed grades 9-12. Scholars attend schools in 9 different school districts, and come from as far south as Cedar City and as far north as Logan.
The University of Utah First Star Academy is a partnership between the University of Utah, the national non-profit First Star, the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, and the Utah State Board of Education.
First Star scholar achievements at the 2019 Summer Academy:
MATH
235%
is the average percentage increase in math test scores over the four weeks of daily math instruction at Summer Academy.
LANGUAGE ARTS
156%
is the average percentage increase in grammar test scores over the four weeks of daily Language Arts instruction at Summer Academy.
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND POLICY PROJECT
First Star Scholars rose to the challenge of leadership and advocacy. After a month researching issues such as the school-to-prison pipeline, affordable housing and the conditions of juvenile detention centers, scholars heard their powerful voices resound in the Utah State Capitol. From personal experience, research, and data analysis, scholars spoke of what they had learned about the issue they chose, and made policy recommendations to community members in a legislative committee room.
The Committee
included Rebecca Chavez-Houck, former Utah House Representative; Tasha Williams, Utah Juvenile Defender Attorney; Martin Muñoz, Salt Lake City Corporation; Fatima Dirie, Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office of Diversity & Human Rights; and Kyle Ethelbah, Director of the University of Utah TRIO programs.
Thank you!
for hearing First Star scholars speak and offering such incredible insight into the power of their voices.
The Educators
A variety of organizations and individuals came together to facilitate the day at the legislature, and helped First Star scholars research and present: Nubia Pena, Claudia Loayza, Jenny Hor and Rozanna Benally-Sagg from the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs; Jojo Liu from the Utah Indigent Defense Commission; Anna Thomas from Voices for Utah Children; Jerry Stott, education specialist at First Star; Marlen Olmedo-Estrada and Senator Jerry Stevenson from the Utah State Senate.
Senator Jerry Stevenson
saw First Star students in the hallway, and recognized them as the amazing individuals that they are. Senator Stevenson stopped his day to welcome First Star into the Senate chamber and answer students' questions.
First Star Scholar Achievements during the 2019-2020 academic year:
Participation in 10 Saturday Academies
Saturday Academies, one per month from September 2019-June 2020, included study sessions, workshops on strategic sharing, diversity and inclusion and college access, a committee interview with Senator Stevenson, and field trips.
Individualized Support
Outside of Saturday Academies, scholars and families received support from First Star in tutoring, study sessions, ACT prep courses, college applications, navigating financial aid for higher education, resume and interview skills, social-emotional wellness, mental health needs and emergencies.
Day at the Capitol
During the 2020 Legislative Session, First Star scholars had the opportunity to participate in a Utah Board of Juvenile Justice committee meeting, sit in on a legislative committee, and received a shout-out from Senator Stevenson from the Senate floor. Thank you Senator Stevenson, UBJJ, and especially Anna Thomas and Ciriac Alvarez from Voices for Utah Children!
2020 Multicultural Youth Leadership Day
Several First Star Scholars were accepted to participate in the 2020 Multicultural Youth Leadership Day at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. Thank you Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs!
Leadership and Service
Two First Star scholars were selected to serve on the Utah Board of Juvenile Justice.
Fifty percent of scholars were employed during the year.
Fifty percent of scholars attained leadership positions in their schools and communities during the year.
Six scholars were selected to serve on First Star's student-staff advisory board for the 2020-2021 year.
From First Star's inaugural graduating class,
two First Star Scholars have been accepted to the University of Utah with full scholarship support!
Thank you to the Liz and Alex Smith Foundation, which has generously donated scholarships for First Star graduates attending the University of Utah.
CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS!
COVID-19 RESPONSE
When COVID-19 arrived in March, First Star quickly pivoted to virtual online Saturday Academies, virtual academic and social-emotional support, basic needs support for scholars and families, five days a week of virtual programming for scholars to connect while in quarantine, and games such as quarantine Bingo.
Virtual Summer Academy 2020
First Star staff, scholars, and the Board of Directors pulled together to create a first-ever virtual Summer Academy from July 6th-July 31st, which has been a success! Scholars have participated academics, college access, life skills courses such as cooking and budgeting, and wellness courses such as mindfulness and book club. More outcomes to come in First Star's forthcoming Summer Academy 2020 report.
Last but not least,
For kids who've raised younger siblings, nursed parents, and attended an average of nine schools by ninth grade--all while keeping their grades up--
At First Star 2019-2020,
FIRST STAR KIDS GOT TO BE KIDS
with the help of an amazing staff team
many of whom are University of Utah MSW students, PhD students, and undergraduate students.
A Huge THANK YOU to our Donors, Volunteers and Supporters:
Foundations
- Atticus Books & Teahouse
- B.W. Bastian Foundation
- Jeff and Helen Cardon Foundation
- Cucina
- Lawrence T. and Janet T. Dee Foundation
- DoTerra Essential Oils
- George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation
- Feldman's Deli
- Foster the Children
- Harbor Steak & Seafood
- Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation
- In-n-Out Burger Foundation
- Kahlert Foundation
- Lassonde Institute/David Eccles School of Business
- Merit Medical
- Herbert I. & Elsa B. Michael Foundation
- Larry H. Miller and Gail Miller Family Foundation
- Neilsen Foundation
- Pago
- Sorenson Legacy Foundation
- Upstart Ventures
- Varex Imaging
Individuals
- Alex Smith and Liz Smith
- Alex Yrungaray
- Alonso Reyna Rivarola
- Betty Holmberg and Larry Holmberg
- Bronson Bohnet
- Dixie Lehman
- Emilio Manuel Camu
- Evan Vickers, Utah Senator
- Francis Gibson, Utah Representative
- Hugo Ferreira
- Irene Ota
- Jason Blauch
- Jerry Stevenson, Utah Senator
- Jessica Goulding
- Jim and Stacia Nusbaum
- Julia Jones and Ken Jones
- J. Stuart Adams, Utah Senator
- Karen Wilcox
- Kate Hubrich
- Keith Grover, Utah Senator
- Kelly Brink
- Linda Paternina
- Logan Meyers
- Mandi Titcomb
- Mark St. Andre
- Martha Bradley
- Martha Macomber
- Mary Jane Taylor
- Melissa Ballard, Utah Representative
- Mutsumi Bramble
- Nicole Batt
- Patricia Platts
- Rachel Everitt
- Rachel Hayes-Harb and Basil Harb
- Rebecca Cengiz-Robbs and Troy Robbs
- Ricky Ballesteros
- Sandra Rideout
- Sandi Pershing
- Sol Jimenez
- Steve Borst
- Steve Shotts
- Susan Forti
- Tamara and Larry Hamilton
- Tawanda Owens
- Thomas Parks and Patricia Legant
- Tracy Allen
- Victor Emmanuel Solorzano-Gringeri
First Star National
- Peter Samuelson
- Robin Winston
- Lyndsey Collins
- Brian Ritchey
- Erin Buchanan
- Jennyann Gallo
Board of Directors
- Steve Borst, Q Therapeutics
- Sandi Pershing, Founding Director of U of U First Star Academy
- Crystal Vail, Department of Child and Family Services
- Candida Darling, Salt Lake Community College
- Jojo Liu, Indigent Defense Commission
- Jennifer Mauer, Foster Parent
- Chad McDonald, School of Social Work and Social Research Institute
- Liz Smith, Alex and Liz Smith Foundation
- Ricky Ballesteros, Extraordinary Human
- Rachel Hayes-Harb, Associate Dean Undergraduate Studies U of U
- Troy D'Ambrosio, Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
