IMPACT Day is Deloitte’s annual celebration of their long-term commitment to community involvement. On IMPACT Day, they encourage their 50,000+ employees across the country to set aside their work for the day to contribute their time and talent to benefit local nonprofits. This year the event was held on Friday, June 10th and for the second year in a row Deloitte collaborated with College Bound for College Exploration Day with local middle schools.

College Bound and Deloitte employees were invited to work with 7th and 8th graders in four middle schools; Chavez Prep, Eliot-Hine, Tree of Life Public Charter School and Imagine Hope Community Charter School. Our goal was to get students to actively think about college as a viable option and explore steps they can be taking right now to prepare themselves. During our presentation, we spoke with the students about the advantages a college educated person has over those with a high school diploma including, but not limited to, better career choices, financial stability and overall better standards of living. We engaged the students in interactive activities that had them exploring careers fields they wanted to be in and the classes and activities that would provide opportunities for further exploration of their stated interests. We wrapped up the session by encouraging students to plan and write out action steps they could take as soon as this summer to begin preparing for college. We encouraged them to visit a college, speak with people who are in college and read more.

Students were also given the opportunity to learn more about College Bound through insight on the college experience by alumni Devon Robinson, Aleeah Sutton, Will Gates and Sakinah Muhamad. Aleeah, who just completed her first year at Hampton University, was very excited to share her experiences with the students: “It was refreshing to speak to a group of students who were so inquisitive about my experience. I wanted to assure them that if they became a part of College Bound they wouldn't just receive a scholarship, high school diploma and acceptance into college, but a new family that would see them through to the end of their college experience. I was able to make a group of middle school students excited about college."

This year we proudly served over 200 students. Thank you to Deloitte and their employees as well as to all the schools and students who participated it was a great day.