On October 8, YES Prep hosted its 18th Annual Success After YES: College & Career Pathways Fair, where over 3,300 YES Prep juniors and seniors had the opportunity to interact with representatives from over 100 colleges, universities, service academies, the armed forces and local trade unions from across the country.
“College Initiatives is at the core of why YES Prep exists," says Roberto Treviño, Managing Director of College Initiatives. “We want to ensure that students have access to college and career opportunities after they graduate.”
Access for all YES Prep Juniors and Seniors
At YES Prep, connecting with colleges is a core part of our students' experience. That’s why we ensure that 100% of our juniors and seniors attend a college fair twice during high school. Hosting our fair during the school day ensures every student gets the chance to engage with college admissions officers and explore paths for the future.
“It feels unreal! I’m honestly so excited,” said Kiara Alvarez, Hobby ’26. “I’m looking forward to meeting new colleges, exploring my options and making sure that the colleges I’m considering are the best fit for me.”
“My college counselors helped me by not only helping me match colleges to my interests, but also by helping me find a major that I'm interested in,” said Anthony Murillo, White Oak ’25. “They are also helping me find scholarships that will help me graduate debt-free.”
Connecting with College Representatives
Many college representatives have long supported YES Prep students through the application process, and for some, it holds a special place in their hearts.
“I always tell students it's almost like we have a mini YES Prep community at St. Thomas,” says Caroline Battel, an undergraduate admissions counselor at the University of St. Thomas. “YES Prep students are just so smart, great, really ambitious and we love that.”
YES Prep's North Star is college readiness. We believe that by empowering students to be successful in college, we prepare students for any pathway. By exposing students to both college and career pathways, students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to be able to choose the pathway of their choice.
Exploring Vocational and Technical Careers
“Our programs do help a lot of Texas students get out there and make a living wage in fields such as welding, electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and more,” says Arica Benson, a representative from Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center. “These are jobs we need day-to-day regardless of the economy and can be very stable and lucrative for students and their families.”
At YES Prep, we know that each student's journey is unique and while many will pursue higher education, others will choose a vocational pathway or directly enter the workforce. By also hosting vocational programs at our College & Career Pathways Fair, we aim to empower our students with diverse options so they can confidently select the path that aligns with their goals and ambitions.
Ultimately, we want every YES Prep student to be equipped to pursue a life of opportunity.
Special Thank You to Our Staff
We would like to thank all our YES Prep staff —directors of college counseling, directors of campus operations, college counselors, alumni transition specialists, teachers and other personnel—who made this event a success for our students and college and career pathway partners.
For photos of the event, visit our SmugMug page.