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Educational Access
Educational access is made possible through the scholarship assistance provided by DMSF and generous financial aid from our partner schools. We believe that high quality, college preparatory education should be both available and affordable to all students who want to pursue the opportunity. |
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Programs That Promote Persistence
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Our work does not stop after a Murphy Scholarship is granted. DMSF offers a number of valuable programs which help our Scholars persist toward high school graduation and gain admission to colleges at which they can succeed and earn a degree. These Programs that Promote Persistence begin before our Scholars enter high school and continue until and after they graduate.
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Freshman Summer Bridge
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In order to prepare newly-admitted Murphy Scholars for the upcoming vigorous, college-preparatory environment of our partner schools, each incoming freshman must attend two week-long workshops during the summer before they enter high school. The first workshop, which is presented by professional speech pathologists, teaches Scholars how to use the academic and business language that is expected of them in high school. The second helps students prepare to be an “Ideal Student” and covers such topics as time management, organizational skills, and note-taking. Together, these workshops provide transitional support to link our Scholars’ middle school experiences to those they will encounter in high school, setting them on the right track to succeed at one of our partner schools.
For more information on the Summer Bridge program, click here.
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Mentoring and Affinity Groups
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For many of our Scholars, the high school experience requires emotional, academic and social adjustments. To help ensure their success, DMSF matches Scholars who request a mentor with dedicated individuals who serve as confidants and advisors. Mentors and Scholars communicate regularly and meet at least once each quarter.
Some Murphy Scholars participate in Affinity Groups, our group mentoring program. Qualified and relatable Murphy Scholar alumni serve as facilitators for groups of 12 to 17 Scholars. Affinity Groups meet every other weekend during the school year, providing a safe space for peer-to-peer discussions on the issues that affect many Murphy Scholars and are central to their identity.
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Tutoring
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DMSF requires that all Scholars maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. To help ensure that our Scholars meet and surpass, this obligation, DMSF makes professional in-person and virtual tutoring available to them. The Andy David Tutoring Center, opened in the DMSF office in 2015, is staffed by professional tutors two afternoons every week. An average of 10 Scholars visit the tutoring center each day it is open.
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Summer Opportunities
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DMSF helps Scholars secure a number of different summer opportunities including internships, service projects, study abroad experiences, and paid travel to academic summits and seminars. Murphy Scholars have plenty of opportunities to stay connected with the DMSF staff and their peers.
Caddie Program Each summer, nearly 140 Scholars participate in our Caddie Program. While caddying at a local country club for the summer, Scholars earn spending money and gain job experience. Participating caddies live in college dormitories and experience independence away from home. By caddying for three summers, Murphy Scholars become eligible to apply for the Chick Evans Scholarship, a full-tuition and housing college scholarship sponsored by the Western Golf Association. |
College Counseling
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DMSF provides a four year college counseling curriculum led by a full time DMSF college counselor. We provide one on one advising, college visit opportunities, standardized test preparation, college application workshops, and personalized support with college admissions and financial aid applications. We set our Scholars up for success by helping them to identify, apply to, and graduate from best fit colleges and universities.
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Alumni
After their graduation from high school, DMSF continues to provide programming for our alumni in college and pursuing careers. The central goals of this programming are to maintain positive relationships, support alumni enrolled in college, and ensure meaningful placement for their professional careers. Post-secondary programming includes social activities, workshops on college majors and careers, and internship opportunities.
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Murphy Scholars’ college graduation rate is six times the national average for students from similar economic backgrounds
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