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Gino Moncada joined the 157th graduating class of 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, earning a bachelor’s degree in professional sales. He credits Wildcat Scholars for getting him on the right track as a nervous, first-generation, first-year student.

“Wildcat Scholars supports students who sometimes go under the radar,” Moncada said. “They are like every great mentor I’ve ever had. They saw the current version of me, but they also saw the future version of me.”

In 2016, Weber State created Wildcat Scholars as a clearer, more structured way for students to transition to college. What began as a one-semester seminar course for a group of 13 students has grown to a full year of academic study with eight courses for nearly 200 students.

Wildcat Scholars provides a learning community where students take classes together to build camaraderie and strong relationships with their advisor and faculty. Their first year of study includes new co-requisite English and math courses, allowing students, who enter the university below college-level placement, to finish their composition and math requirements in one year. Serving many first-generation, low-income and BIPOC students, the program is helping close achievement gaps and improving equity in higher education.

“Getting to that milestone in the first year gives them a much higher likelihood of continuing to graduation,” said Amy Huntington, program director.