Help Future First-Gen Students Experience College Life!

This summer, a small group of remarkable 8th-grade graduates from Skagit County will take an unforgettable overnight trip to explore life on a college campus—and we need your help to make it happen.

Organized by Ms. Denise Miller, who has taught and mentored these students since 4th grade and currently leads them in ASB (student leadership), this trip is a labor of love and a powerful opportunity. Most of these students come from families facing extreme poverty, some have experienced housing insecurity, and many would be the first in their families to attend college.

We’ll visit Washington State University in Pullman and make a short side trip to the University of Idaho. The students will:

Stay overnight in college dorms

Tour real college campuses with student guides

Visit a bookstore, stadium, classrooms, and ice cream shop

Talk about what it takes to attend college and imagine their futures

This isn’t a school-sponsored trip—it's a grassroots effort by dedicated educators volunteering their time to inspire young leaders.

We're hoping to raise $1,500 to help cover van rental, gas, dorm fees, and meals (including pizza night!). A $10 contribution covers a meal. A $50 gift helps one student get there. Every dollar helps.

Your support will give these future leaders a meaningful, motivating glimpse of what’s possible—and remind them that people believe in their dreams.

Thank you for being part of their journey. Go Cougs!