KIPP Forward Alumni Support

About the Program

Alumni support begins as soon as students graduate high school. We focus on building strong relationships with students and their families throughout their high school journey so we have a strong start to their post-secondary journey.

“How do I even start with how much my Persistence Advisor supports me? I think the big thing is she’s always available for me whenever I need her, and she helps me find the starting point of a problem or situation so I can move forward on my own.”

Alexis March, MTSU junior

“KIPP Forward works with a lot of first time students that don’t necessarily have family that’s been to college. My Persistence Advisory is more than a counselor, she’s like my older sister. She helped me with the logistics of getting into nursing school, and I know if I need anything with or within college, she’s one call away. That’s how KIPP Forward is, period.”

Shay Works, nursing student at Lawson State Community College

“I had this plan of becoming a medical assistant, and then I decided I wanted to switch careers. When I told my Persistence Advisor, she was very supportive and helpful in my transition to becoming a Paraprofessional at KIPP Nashville College Prep, a school I attended. Knowing I would have them in my corner no matter what, made a big difference in the decisions I made.”

Milly Rodriguez, Paraprofessional at KIPP Nashville College Prep

What We Do

As Persistence Advisors, our team takes a holistic approach to supporting our alumni. We support students with the academic, financial and social emotional aspects of their journey after high school. Through scheduled monthly check-ins that take place in person or virtually, depending on where a student is living, we take time to understand the full picture of an alum’s situation and work with them to ensure they are on the path to success. We do not do the work for our alumni. We guide, support and empower them to take responsibility and action so they can work toward independence.

We understand that no student’s path to fulfillment and a career of highest aspiration looks the same. So we tailor our approach, taking time to build lasting relationships with our students and their families. It is our goal to support students in finding a career that makes them happy and brings them fulfillment and financial security.

Our Focus

Monthly check-ins (in-person or virtually)
Personalized support in getting acclimated to their new pathways
Holding alumni accountable as they prioritize their new routines in work force or their academic/certification programs (including deadlines, translating knowledge, encouraging them to have a growth mindset)
Connection to community and campus contacts, academic resources, professional development opportunities

Guidance on course and major selection
Alumni specific announcements and newsletters via email or text messages
FAFSA support
Internship and scholarship opportunities
Resume development and career search support
Alumni social events

“My brothers and sisters didn’t go to college, it was all new, so everything I was learning was all from KIPP. For a long time I was uncertain about what I wanted to major in, so she helped me figure out the best steps to figure that out and strategies to balance my workload.”

Keyanna Holder, Fisk University Class of 2022

Additional Resources