75% of Lynn students don't

advance to college

La Vida Scholars is a free college prep program in Lynn, MA.
We help match students with the best colleges for their futures with minimal debt.

Our Story

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Our

Mission

We’re a nonprofit college prep program in Lynn, MA. Our mission is to equip low-income, high-achieving students with the resources needed to enter great colleges. We award families who save with matched funds and the training necessary to make the right decisions about their child’s higher education.

161

Scholars off to college

According to national data, 33% of all students in the US earn a college degree. However, only 9% of students from low-income families earn a degree.

76

College graduates

Above all, we tackle severe college under-matching in which well-qualified students, often from less affluent households, are not matched with competitive colleges.

15.2

Million in scholarships

We provide after school and college preparatory programs for families to match students with the right colleges for their futures.

91

% of alumni persisting

Once enrolled in college, our program continues to offer support and provide laptop computers, advising with the transition, as well as academic, financial, and career advice. 

Since 2007

Our History

Our college prep program began in 2007 and consists of 73 current and 133 alumni families. We serve primarily immigrant families in the city of Lynn, MA whose children attend Lynn public high schools.

Services of the program include:

  • Academic support
  • Campus visits
  • College entrance exam preparation
  • Monthly family meetings
  • Matched college savings
  • Individualized student advising and counseling
  • Help in completion of scholarship and college applications.

Since 2007, the program has helped 133 students secure over $15.2 million in grants, scholarships and awards.

Meet

Our Staff

Angelica Martinez

Angelica Martinez
Angelica attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design and double majored in Art History and Painting with a concentration in Middle Eastern antiquities. As a first generation student and the daughter of Immigrants from the Dominican Republic, she is passionate about providing guidance and assistance to other first generation students and working with families from diverse backgrounds in the multi-cultural community of Lynn. Her work and life are rooted in matters of social justice, racial and gender inequalities, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental issues.

Peter Barros

Peter Barros
Peter is first and foremost the proud son of Dominican immigrants, born and raised in Boston, MA. He has more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector where he has built an expertise in the college access field and youth program development, advocating for equity in educational spaces for disenfranchised communities- particularly from immigrant communities. He joined La Vida Scholars in 2019 following successful tenures in New York City and Boston. He is a firm believer in the power of building meaningful relationships with young people, families, & the communities we serve. Peter has served as a Board Member of the College Access Consortium of New York (CACNY), Steering Committee for the New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling (NYSACAC), and was a founding member of the Success Boston college completion initiative. He attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he majored in Political Science.

Judy Bowe

Judy Bowe
Judy is a first-generation college graduate and was born in Boston. She earned an M.Ed. in Education from Cambridge College and has worked her entire career in the non-profit sector. Judy has served as a development professional for over two decades and has fundraising experience in higher education, middle school education, climate change, and epilepsy. The majority of her work has been with BIPOC communities locally and nationally. She is excited about the opportunity to work at La Vida Scholars as her mom grew up in Chelsea and was never able to attend college.

Jeanelle Arellano

Jeanelle Arellano
Jeanelle is a first generation college graduate and proud daughter of Mexican and Guatemalan immigrants. She has a Masters of Social Work from Boston University and bachelor of arts in sociology from Southern California. Jeanelle highly values inclusion and empathy while taking a social justice lens in her daily life and Connecting with East Boston and Chelsea students has been a major focus throughout her studies. Originally from sunny southern California she enjoys experiencing actual seasons, especially fall. Jeanelle is excited to work alongside students with similar and diverse backgrounds and hopes to help them embrace their full potential and reach their goals.

Ismael Aquino

Ismael Aquino
Ismael, a child of Guatemalan immigrants, was raised in Lynn, MA. He is a first generation-college student that recently graduated from Hamilton College and was a Posse Scholar who double majored in Psychology and Hispanic Studies. He fervently hopes to give back to the nonprofit programs that supported him and other low-income marginalized students of color throughout his educational journey. Ismael was also a LaVida Scholar, Quesbridge finalist, and both a student and counselor at the Yleana Leadership Academy.

Catherine “Kat” Anderson

Kat Anderson
Kat is from Nashua, NH and is a recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a Certificate in Civic Engagement and Public Service. At UMass Amherst Kat was involved in The Boltwood Project, House Council, and the professional fraternity Pi Sigma Pi. This year she is doing a year of service at La Vida Scholars as an Americorps Massachusetts Promise Fellow. Kat is passionate about serving underrepresented students and the disability community.

Our Programs

Who we serve

LVS offers services that bridge the gap between families and the college process by providing access to their dreams of higher education. For the past decade, LVS has helped over 130 students with their post-secondary education processes. Our students graduate from our program, enter selective colleges and become the next leaders and thinkers. They are working at Google, at think tanks in Washington, D.C., and at nonprofits in the Boston area.

Our Programs

What we offer

Junior Year

Many students say junior year is the toughest academically. Since it is the last full year of grades that colleges see, our students pour their effort into improving and maintaining their GPA. At La Vida, students’ second year is spent thoroughly preparing them for the college process. This includes applications, financial aid, standardized testing, community service and summer programs.

The cornerstones of junior year include:

  • Kaplan ACT preparatory classes
  • Career Explorations course
  • One-on-one advising
  • College Prep curriculum
  • Campus visits
  • Community Service
  • Summer test prep programs
Join the waitlist

Senior Year

A student’s last year at La Vida is the most critical. At least half the year is spent building college lists, writing essays, submitting applications, working through financial aid paperwork and award letters, and applying for scholarships. There is a lot to balance on top of schoolwork, community service and extracurriculars. It is arguably the toughest year at La Vida, but it is also by far the most rewarding.

The cornerstones of senior year include:

  • College Prep curriculum
  • Campus visits (late summer/early fall)
  • Community service
  • Weekly advising meetings with a La Vida staff mentor
  • Minimum of 10 scholarship applications
  • Minimum of 8 college applications
  • FAFSA and CSS Profile
  • College Life Workshops, which include sessions on money management, sexual assault, substance abuse, and mental health
  • La Vida graduation
Join the waitlist

parents and Guardians

We believe that parents, guardians, and families play a critical role in the successes of our students.

Upon acceptance into the program, parents and guardians are required to sign a contract, just like students, that agrees to the following:

  • Open a savings account through Metro Credit Union. Families save $300 per year and it is 100% matched at the end of each year.
  • Attend monthly workshops hosted by our partner organization, Inversant.
  • Attend one campus visit per year. This can be with La Vida or on their own with their student.
Join the waitlist

Our Programs

APPLYING TO LA VIDA

Each year, LVS accepts 45 students. We encourage students to submit their application on time. Please be thoughtful in your answers, as it’s our way of getting to know you and your aspirations for the future.
  • La Vida hosts information sessions for students with qualifying GPAs at Lynn high schools. Students provide contact information if they are interested in learning more about our program. La Vida staff and students contact families of qualifying students and sign them up for an information session at the La Vida office.
  • Information sessions are hosted at the La Vida office and applications are given to families. Applications are typically due at the end of the month.
  • Applications are reviewed and all students and their families are interviewed by La Vida staff. A selection committee of La Vida staff, board members and alumni meet to decide on members of the incoming class.
  • Students are notified of their admission status.

Our Impact

Stories

90
Motivated, low income high school students are equipped to enter colleges

175

Families receive monthly college prep workshops in English and Spanish

75

Graduates attend nationally or regionally ranked colleges

58

Graduates have a Bachelor or Masters degree and are currently working

Program

Our Partners

La Vida Scholars is honored to be in the company of great partner organizations, financial supporters, and amazing colleges that provide full-need scholarships.
Inversant Logo Hildreth Logo Cummings Foundation Logo Logo Zero Debt Logo Eastern Bank Logo

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Contact Us

Drop us a line

(781) 586-0193

Call us for more information

120 Munroe Street

Lynn, MA 01901

[email protected]

Send us an email

About Us

Impact

Follow Us

By the Numbers

  • $15.2 Million in scholarships
  • 161 Scholars off to college
  • 76 College graduates
  • 91% Alumni persistence rate
Phone: (781) 586-0193 ● Address: 120 Munroe Street, Lynn, MA 01901
Copyright © 2023 La Vida, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
La Vida, Inc. is a member of the Hildreth Family of Organizations advancing college access.