Support. Equity. Success.

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Our Programs

Our High Hopes Scholarship Programs help Berkeley public school graduates flourish in college and beyond.

Our Impact

BCS High Hopes Scholars graduate at 5x the national rate of their peers.

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Mentor a High Hopes Scholar during their college journey.

Our Mission

Berkeley Community Scholars empowers Berkeley youth who face racial, economic, and other barriers to achieving their college dreams by providing a unique experience of scholarships, advising, mentoring, and a community of support.

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Our three programs support Berkeley public high school students attending universities or community college with the intention of transferring to bachelors degree institutions.

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Donations to our organization help us provide a powerful combination of financial assistance and mentoring—closing the opportunity gap for students in our community.

News & Announcements

  • Protected: Welcome 2026 Scholars!

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  • Summer Celebration 2026!

Join us at the Residence Inn in downtown Berkeley on June 7th, 10 am-12 pm, for our celebration of our new and graduating scholars. For more details and to RSVP, click below. We hope to see you there!

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  • Celebrating Lynn Walker’s Impact

In July 2014, Lynn joined the BCS team, working alongside then-executive director Joleen Eeson Ruffin and took on the role of providing support for our scholars. She has always been a ferocious advocate for our scholars. Whether it’s a call for help in selecting courses, deciding on majors, navigating relationships with professors, roommates, or friends,…

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