"It means so much to me that people I have never met care about my future, and I want to work hard and make them proud of me. " - Phina, Cohort IV
Achieve student placement in Advanced Learning Programs or Independent Schools
In turn, we as Rainier Scholars staff and volunteers hold ourselves to equally high expectations, striving to pursue excellence in all that we do.
Mission
Rainier Scholars cultivates the academic potential of talented and motivated young scholars from ethnic minority backgrounds. By offering access to exceptional educational opportunities and ongoing comprehensive support to our scholars, we work to increase their college graduation rates and to develop new generations of leaders.Vision
Rainier Scholars envisions a legacy of successful and inspiring leaders who make a positive impact in the Puget Sound region and beyond through:- Greater number of diverse students successfully graduating from top-tier colleges
- Increased diverse pool of qualified candidates for high-level leadership roles
- Increased number of families of color who become consumers of education
Program Goals
Increase student skills for academic success- Increase study skills and time management techniques
- High level engagement in the classroom community
- Increase coping skills and self-advocacy
- Increase understanding of being a high-achieving student of color
Achieve student placement in Advanced Learning Programs or Independent Schools
- Scholars sustain academic achievement over time in academically strong programs
- Build and maintain support networks among advisors, counselors, peers and cohorts
Engage families in activities to promote becoming consumers of education
Increase student leadership skills and capacity |
| A PIC award for perseverance, integrity and/or courage being presented to a student by a student. |
Values
Perseverance, Integrity, Courage and Academic ExcellencePursuing Excellence
We believe the innate ability of each scholar will be nurtured by raising expectations and challenging them to strive for excellence.In turn, we as Rainier Scholars staff and volunteers hold ourselves to equally high expectations, striving to pursue excellence in all that we do.
Staff Team
| Calvin Lyons | Executive Director |
| Senior Staff | |
| Bob Hurlbut | Founder & Director of Recruitment |
| Sarah Smith | Academic Director |
| Susie Wu | Director of ACSS & Leadership Development |
| Ronnie Cunningham | Dean of Students & Educational Psychologist |
| Mary Bristow | Director of Development |
| Jennifer Ward | Assistant ACSS Director |
| Ebony Burnside | Leadership Development Program Manager |
| Pedro Cordoba | Academic Counselor |
| Marquita Prinzing | Academic Counselor |
| Baoinne Williams | Academic Counselor |
| Nicki Stein | Placement Coordinator |
| Jolenta Coleman | Academic Counselor/ Program Assistant |
| Carrie Madden | Office Manager |
| Bob Marshall | Accountant |
Board of Directors
| Gary Young, Board Chair | Polygon Homes |
| Brian Klein, Vice Chair | Steelhead Partners |
| Kristina Belfiore, Vice Chair | Community Volunteer |
| Bettye Wilkes, Secretary | Washington Mutual |
| Samantha Brown, Treasurer | Goldman Sachs |
| Dwayne Clark | Aegis Living |
| Tom Ellison | Savers, Inc. |
| Leslie Magid Higgins | Community Volunteer |
| Mary Ketcham Kerr | Community Volunteer |
| Chris Prentice | Kibble and Prentice |
| Gail Ransom | Ransom Development Services |
| John Snyder | Bank of America |
| Ed Taylor | University of Washington |
| Joyce Taylor | KING-5 News |
| Jeff Wright | Cambria Homes |
Resource Council
| Bill Adamucci | Community Volunteer |
| Emily Anthony | Community Volunteer |
| Steve Arnold | Polaris Venture Partners |
| Patti Brooke | Microsoft |
| Julia Calhoun | Community Volunteer |
| Gregory Davis | Casey Family Programs |
| Craig Dawson | Retail Lockbox, Inc. |
| Dick DiCerchio | Costco Wholesale |
| Robert Flowers | Community Volunteer |
| Allan Golston | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Matt Griffin | Pine Street Development |
| Percell Johnson | Cassel, Inc. |
| Steve Lockshin | Convergent Wealth Advisors |
| Mary Pugh | Pugh Capital Management |
| Ron Sims | King County Executive |
| Craig Stewart | Apex Foundation |
| Richard Thrasher | Enterprise Rent-a-Car |