Parent and Family Support

The Foundation helps first-generation families understand the US college system and empower them to support their children. With the help of our bilingual parent liaison, EPAAF is able to host the Parent university program, created to support parents in navigating the college process and how to best care for their student’s academic and social-emotional well-being.

Athletics, Art, and Culture

From providing equipment and transportation for EPAA athletes to and from sports games, to supporting the music, art, and dance performances at our yearly Cultural Celebrations honoring our diverse student body, EPAAF ensures a holistic approach to high school education that transcends academics. 

Dream Lab

The Dream Lab Makerspace—is a collaborative workspace where students explore experiential learning, increase their college and career readiness, and create projects with state-of-the-art tools.

Combining skills-based instruction and a project-based curriculum, the Dream Lab supports students in bringing their ideas to life. In addition to classes throughout the school day, the Dream Lab also hosts after-school programs like Project Invent, where students are empowered to use their skills to help the community. For three years in a row, EPAA students have won the top prize at the Project Invent Demo Day, which awards $1,000 for the prototyping of the most promising student-developed technology In 2018, EPAA students won for GlowVis, a digitally enhanced cane for the visually impaired. A year later, EPAA students won for UltraDot, a proximity-sensing sign that alerts drivers not to encroach on wheelchair accessible parking spots. Again in 2020, they won for SOAR, a virtual reality project that promotes communication and social-emotional learning for classmates on the autism spectrum.

A proud recipient of the State of California’s K12 Strong Workforce Program grant, EPAA has also launched an Engineering Technology Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathway, where students can earn Foothill College dual-enrollment credit by taking engineering classes in the Dream Lab. In doing so, they are preparing for higher education and engineering careers.

Through the Makerspace, students are empowered to design and build—all in pursuit of EPAA’s vision that they will “create a positive impact on their lives, their community, and the global society.”

Wraparound Services

EPAA knows that students learn best when they feel safe, healthy, and connected. By responding to each student’s holistic needs, we create a positive and supportive learning community.

• Mental Health: Composed of our Manager of Social Services and a crew of Stanford Psychiatry graduate students, our mental health team provides individual counseling and group therapy. They also facilitate workshops for all EPAA students on relevant topics, including Healthy and Empowered Relationships, the Neuroscience of Addiction, and Breaking Free from Depression.

• Lucille Packard Health Van: On a biweekly basis, students can visit the health van during the regular school day for everything from physical exams and injury treatment to nutritional counseling.

• Restorative Justice: Through a partnership with Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, our full-time Restorative Justice Coordinator conducts mediations, facilitates difficult conversations, and hosts workshops. Through this program, our students learn and practice vital communication and conflict resolution skills.

Summer Strength Meeting

Many incoming first-gen college students struggle to start college in the fall because of a complicated labyrinth of paperwork and requirements to enroll and secure financial aid—a phenomenon known as “summer melt.” The Summer Strength Meeting helps incoming first-year college students meet their required deadlines and confidently prepare for college. EPAAF meets with the students to assist them with paperwork, as well as finalize their housing and transportation plans. Here, students have the space to share their concerns and their excitement for their oncoming journeys.

College Send-Off

EPAAF hosts an annual College Send-Off event, where we bring together scholars to celebrate, reflect, and prepare for the year ahead. Grouped by college, older EPAAF students facilitate conversations for younger students about their experiences, struggles, and learnings. We also collaborate with local organizations and community partners to create workshops on topics including professor etiquette, financial literacy, and mental health and wellbeing.

Community partners also help us ensure that students receive study and dorm-life essentials. Parents and younger siblings participate by assembling care packages and writing notes of encouragement.

Mentorship Program

Working with EPAAF mentors, first-year college students receive personalized encouragement, academic support, and connections to relevant internships in their career fields of interest. Mentors act as an ally, advocate, and resource for our hardworking students as they begin their new journey.

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Postsecondary Support Program

In order for EPAAF to provide the most equitable support for our students’ diverse needs, goals, and circumstances, we created the Postsecondary Support Program to provide academic, navigational, and social-emotional support to EPAA alumni who choose to further their education at community colleges or technical education programs. 

Peer Leadership

The Peer Leadership program increases community and navigational support for college students across all grade levels at the universities where a majority of EPAA alumni attend college. EPAAF Peer Leaders are upperclassmen who are using their lived experiences as older students to improve the transition and overall experience for their fellow EPAA college peers by serving as mentors and sharing valuable resources and advice.  

Academic Support

With the help of our dedicated community volunteers, EPAAF is able to provide tutoring support for our scholars enrolled in challenging courses. Scholars can receive assistance via Zoom with test preparation, homework help, or clarification of complex topics.

Graduate Consultations

Our EPAAF staff offers our scholars 1:1 consultations to provide them with individualized support during the critical transition periods between junior year, senior year, graduation, and entry into the professional workforce.

Career Coaching Program

In tandem with personalized consultations with EPAAF staff, EPAAF offers its scholars the opportunity to participate in our Career Coaching Program. Career Coaches provide our students with access to career exploration and resume building, mock and informational interviews, and networking skills, while providing valuable insight into specific occupations our scholars are eager to pursue.