Fostering Success- Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
ABOUT
The Fostering Success Program at Colorado State University is a donor-funded community for students from independent backgrounds, including students with foster care experience (SEFC), kinship care, guardianship, and others without consistent family support.
It provides scholarships and financial aid navigation, one-on-one coaching, academic support, and community engagement opportunities, all designed to create a sense of belonging and help students thrive on a large campus.
Through social events, peer mentoring, and targeted resources, Fostering Success surrounds students with a network of faculty, staff, and peers who understand their experiences and are invested in their success from entry to graduation.
CONTACT
Location: 1415 Meridian Avenue
Phone: (970) 491-7095
Email: Andrea.Fortney@colostate.edu
Epic Scholars – Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO
ABOUT
Epic Scholars at MSU Denver is a campus support and scholarship program for students with experience in foster care (SEFC) and other independent backgrounds, created to improve college access, persistence, and graduation for this community.
The program combines financial support with mentoring, academic guidance, and community-building activities so scholars have both the funds and the relationships they need to navigate college successfully.
Epic Scholars focuses on helping students build their academic skills, career goals, and support networks, recognizing that long-term success requires more than just tuition coverage.
CONTACT
Phone: 303-556-5740
Email: epicscholars@msudenver.edu
Guardian Scholars – University of Colorado
Boulder, CO
ABOUT
The Guardian Scholars Program at CU Boulder is a campus-based support community for students who have experienced foster care, homelessness, or a lack of stable guardian support, centered on equitable access, resilience, and empowerment.
Operating under TRIO Student Support Services, it offers specialized one-on-one mentoring and coaching, financial literacy and personal development seminars, and a safe, affirming community where students can build self-advocacy and personal growth.
Guardian Scholars also connects students to campus and community resources, emergency supports, and scholarship opportunities, helping them overcome barriers, stay enrolled, and thrive academically and personally.
CONTACT
Location: LBB 255B- UCB
Phone: (303) 492-3842
Dawson Promise- Dawson Community College
Glendive, MT
ABOUT
Dawson Promise at Dawson Community College is a program that helps unaccompanied youth who are experiencing homelessness or aging out of foster care earn a two‑year degree or certificate without going into debt.
As a Dawson Promise student, you get year‑round on‑campus housing, support from financial aid to complete your FAFSA, a mentor to walk you through admissions and enrollment, and one‑on‑one advising to pick a program and stay on track.
The program also connects you with a local host family, on‑campus employment, and life‑skills training (like budgeting, resume writing, and grocery shopping), so you have both a community and the day‑to‑day skills you need while you’re in college and planning what comes next.
CONTACT
Daisy Nyberg
Phone: 406-377-9412
Email: dnyberg@dawson.edu
Website: https://www.dawson.edu/outreach/dawson-promise.html
No programs able to be identified at this time.
If you would like your program added, please contact us at nrc.fahe@gmail.com
No programs able to be identified at this time.
If you would like your program added, please contact us at nrc.fahe@gmail.com
First Star Academy- University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
ABOUT
The University of Utah First Star Academy is a four‑year college‑prep program for high school students in foster care that blends monthly Saturday Academies during the school year with a month‑long residential Summer Academy on the U of U campus.
During Summer Academy, scholars live in campus housing, take focused math and language arts classes in the mornings, and join electives and life‑skills activities in the afternoons, while Saturdays are used for workshops, tutoring, relationship‑building, and practicing skills like budgeting, conflict resolution, and self‑advocacy.
Throughout the year, each scholar and caregiver is connected to a dedicated staff “point person,” and students receive ongoing one‑on‑one and small‑group tutoring, ACT prep, college counseling, FAFSA and scholarship support, and mentoring, creating a stable, long‑term support system that stays with them through all four years of high school regardless of placement changes.
CONTACT
Mara Zenger
Email: firststar@utah.edu
Website: https://firststar.utah.edu/program-and-curriculum.php
No programs able to be identified at this time.
If you would like your program added, please contact us at nrc.fahe@gmail.com