Current Scholars

The Program now partners with public high schools located In 11 Northern California School Districts: Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, East Side Union (In San Jose), Emeryville, Los Angeles, Oakland, Salinas, San Francisco, Sequoia Union (On the mid-Peninsula) and West Contra Costa.

Program Services For Continuing Scholars
The cornerstones of the Incentive Awards Program are leadership and service. The Program provides a wide variety of services throughout Scholars’ four years at Cal to help them further develop their leadership skills and establish the foundation that will be needed for success in their personal and professional lives. Scholars’ undergraduate experiences are enriched by fostering relationships with community, corporate, and educational leaders. Scholars learn how to become positive role models for younger students in their former high schools. The Program offers various enrichment workshops and seminars covering essential topics of student interest, such as resume writing, study abroad programs, and planning for graduate school. Continuing Scholars are critical members of the support network that is especially vital for new Scholars. As experienced Berkeley undergraduates and Incentive Awards veterans, continuing Scholars are in a position to help incoming students by hosting visits to campus and by establishing mentor relationships with them once they are here.

Incentive Awards Scholars overcome many hardships on the path towards higher education, but despite these obstacles, they possess passion and the drive to succeed in a highly competitive educational environment. Once on campus, these Scholars not only deal with their past problems, but also with the added stress of succeeding for themselves, their families, and their communities. To support them, the IAP office has two academic advisors who closely monitor their academic progress to ensure that Scholars are successfully completing their academic requirements and educational goals. The Program also has a dedicated counseling psychologist who assists students with any difficult issues that may arise while they are enrolled at Cal. The Incentive Awards Program staff continually works to develop, implement, and evaluate strategies and services that benefit the Scholars as individuals and as leaders in their communities.

We also offer to all Scholars, through IAP’s partnership with the University’s Tang Center, access to a licensed psychologist to assist Scholars who may have trouble dealing with the demands of college.

Thus, through a variety of relevant services, carefully crafted courses, as well as community building activities, the Incentive Awards Program ensures that incoming and continuing scholars will have the tools to adjust to and thrive in the University environment.