Alumni Support Through KIPP Forward

Graduating from high school is an exciting milestone, but it also marks the beginning of a new set of decisions and responsibilities. College, career training, certifications, and entering the workforce can all bring questions that students have never had to navigate before.

KIPP Forward continues supporting KIPP Nashville alumni after graduation. Through individualized relationships with Persistence Advisors, alumni can receive academic, financial, career, and social-emotional guidance as they adjust to their postsecondary paths and work toward greater independence.

$14 Million + in scholarships earned by the KIPP Nasville Class of 2026

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Support That Continues After Graduation

KIPP Forward alumni support begins as soon as students graduate from high school, but the relationships behind that support start earlier.

Throughout high school, KIPP Forward works to build relationships with students and their families. Those connections provide continuity when students graduate and begin navigating college, certification programs, career training, the workforce, or other opportunities.

Instead of starting over with someone new, alumni can have a familiar support system available as their goals and circumstances evolve.

The transition after high school is different for every student. KIPP Forward recognizes those differences and tailors alumni support around each individual’s pathway, challenges, and aspirations.

Meet Your Persistence Advisor

A Persistence Advisor is a consistent point of connection for KIPP Nashville alumni.

Persistence Advisors take a holistic approach, considering the academic, financial, career, and social-emotional factors that may affect an alum’s progress after high school. Advisors conduct scheduled monthly check-ins, either virtually or in person depending on where an alum lives.

These conversations give alumni a place to talk through questions, identify challenges, explore resources, and determine their next steps.

But the goal isn’t for advisors to make decisions or solve every problem for alumni.

KIPP Forward emphasizes guiding and empowering alumni to take responsibility and action for themselves. Over time, that approach can help graduates become increasingly confident and independent as they navigate adulthood.

Your Path Doesn't Have to Look Like Anyone Else's

There is no single definition of success after high school.

One graduate may attend a four-year university. Another may pursue a certification or technical program. Someone else may enter the workforce and begin building a career.

Plans can change, too.

An alum might switch majors, transfer schools, discover a new career interest, pursue a different certification, or realize that the path they originally chose no longer fits their goals.

KIPP Forward recognizes that no two paths to fulfillment and career success look exactly alike. Persistence Advisors build individualized relationships with alumni and their families, with the goal of helping graduates pursue careers that can provide both personal fulfillment and financial security.

Adjusting to Life After High School

Graduation can bring more independence very quickly.

Students who were accustomed to structured school schedules may suddenly need to manage college classes, work hours, financial responsibilities, transportation, deadlines, and other commitments more independently.

KIPP Forward helps alumni adjust to these new routines.

Support can include personalized guidance as graduates become acclimated to their chosen pathways and accountability as they manage responsibilities in the workforce, college, or certification programs. Advisors can help alumni think through deadlines, apply what they’ve learned, and approach challenges with a growth mindset.

The goal is not to remove every obstacle. It’s to help alumni become better equipped to navigate obstacles themselves.

College Persistence Support

Getting accepted to college is an accomplishment. Staying on track toward a degree brings a different set of challenges.

KIPP Forward provides continued support for alumni attending college, helping them navigate decisions and responsibilities that arise after enrollment.

That support can include:

Guidance on course selection
Support exploring or changing majors
Connections to academic resources
FAFSA assistance
Scholarship opportunities
Internship opportunities
Connections to campus and community resources
Help adjusting to new academic expectations

Students may arrive on campus with questions they didn’t know to ask during high school. Having an established advisor to contact gives them another resource as they learn how to navigate college more independently.

Guidance With Courses and Majors

Choosing classes or deciding on a major can feel overwhelming, especially when a student is still discovering what they want from their career.

Persistence Advisors can help alumni think through course and major selection and connect them with resources that can support their decision-making.

Changing direction isn’t necessarily a setback.

As alumni learn more about themselves, their interests may evolve. The important thing is understanding how a change could affect their academic or career path and identifying the steps required to move forward.

KIPP Forward can provide a familiar source of guidance during those decisions.

FAFSA and Financial Support
Finances can have a major impact on whether a student is able to continue progressing through college or another postsecondary program.

KIPP Forward provides FAFSA support for alumni and shares information about scholarship opportunities that may help students manage educational expenses.

Advisors can also help alumni identify relevant campus or community resources when financial challenges arise.

This continued financial guidance builds on the college affordability and financial aid planning students receive through KIPP Forward during high school.
Internships and Professional Development
Postsecondary education is one part of preparing for a career. Students also benefit from opportunities to build professional skills and gain experience.

KIPP Forward connects alumni with internship opportunities, professional development resources, and community contacts that can support their career development.

An internship can give a student firsthand experience in a field they’re considering. Professional development can help graduates strengthen the skills they need to navigate applications, interviews, networking, and workplace expectations.

These experiences can also help alumni answer an important question: Is this the kind of work I want to pursue?
Career Search and Resume Support
KIPP Forward also supports alumni who are preparing to enter or advance within the workforce.

Persistence Advisors can provide resume development and career search support, helping alumni prepare to pursue employment opportunities that align with their goals.

Career plans can evolve over time. A graduate may discover that an initial career choice isn’t the right fit or identify an opportunity they hadn’t previously considered.

KIPP Forward can remain a resource during those transitions, helping alumni think through what they want next and identify practical steps toward pursuing it.

Staying Connected to Resources

One of the challenges of navigating college and career pathways is simply knowing where to find help.

Persistence Advisors can connect alumni with:

Campus contacts
Community contacts
Academic resources
Professional development opportunities
Scholarships
Internships
Career resources

KIPP Forward also communicates alumni-specific announcements and opportunities through email and text messages.

These connections can help alumni identify resources they might not otherwise know were available.

Staying Connected to the KIPP Community

Graduation doesn’t mean alumni stop being part of the KIPP Nashville community.

KIPP Forward offers alumni social events and ongoing communication designed to help graduates remain connected.

That community can matter as alumni move into new environments. College, training programs, and careers may introduce entirely new groups of people and expectations.

Remaining connected with KIPP Nashville gives graduates another network of relationships as they build their lives beyond high school.

Guidance Without Taking Over

One of the most important parts of KIPP Forward’s alumni approach is the distinction between supporting alumni and doing the work for them.

Persistence Advisors help graduates identify where a problem begins, think through possible solutions, find resources, and determine what actions they need to take. KIPP Forward explicitly describes its role as guiding, supporting, and empowering alumni rather than completing those steps on their behalf.

That approach reflects what life after high school requires.

As alumni become more independent, they need the confidence to ask questions, make decisions, solve problems, advocate for themselves, and adjust when plans change.

KIPP Forward provides support while encouraging graduates to develop those skills for themselves.

Alumni Experiences With KIPP Forward

KIPP Nashville alumni describe Persistence Advisors as people they can turn to when they encounter unfamiliar situations.

Alumni featured by KIPP Nashville have shared experiences receiving help with navigating nursing school, changing career directions, choosing a major, balancing college workloads, and determining how to approach unexpected challenges.

Their experiences illustrate the individualized nature of alumni support. One graduate may need help navigating an academic decision while another may be making a career transition.

The specific question may change, but the goal remains the same: help alumni understand their options and move forward with greater confidence.

Monthly Check-Ins Keep Alumni Connected

KIPP Forward uses scheduled monthly check-ins to maintain relationships with alumni.

Meetings can take place in person or virtually depending on where a graduate lives. During those conversations, Persistence Advisors take time to understand the full picture of an alum’s situation rather than focusing on one academic or career question in isolation.

That ongoing contact can help advisors understand how an alum’s academic, financial, professional, and personal circumstances connect.

It also means alumni don’t have to wait until something becomes a major problem before reaching out.

From High School Planning to Postsecondary Persistence

KIPP Forward support is designed as a continuum.

During high school, students explore their strengths, investigate college and career options, prepare applications, navigate financial aid, and develop a postsecondary plan.

After graduation, Persistence Advisors help alumni adjust to that plan, navigate new challenges, access resources, and make changes when their goals evolve.

That continuity allows KIPP Forward to support more than the transition out of high school. It helps alumni work toward long-term educational, professional, and personal goals.

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Make the Most of Alumni Support

KIPP Nashville alumni don’t have to navigate every question about college, training, or career on their own.

Connect with your Persistence Advisor when you:

Need help choosing courses or exploring a major
Have questions about FAFSA
Are looking for scholarships or internships
Need academic or campus resources
Want help strengthening your resume
Are beginning a career search
Are considering changing your educational or career path
Need help figuring out where to start with a challenge
Want to reconnect with the KIPP alumni community

KIPP Forward’s role is to help you identify resources, consider your options, and determine what steps you can take next.

Keep Moving Forward

Your plan after high school may change. Your interests may develop. New challenges and opportunities may appear along the way.

KIPP Forward alumni support is designed to grow with you.

Through monthly check-ins, individualized guidance, academic and financial support, career resources, and continued connection to the KIPP community, Persistence Advisors help alumni navigate their postsecondary journeys while building the independence to take ownership of what comes next.

Wherever your path leads, KIPP Forward can remain part of your support system.

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