Location(s): St. Louis, Missouri and Miami, FL

Employment Type: Temporary, Full-Time, Fellowship (June - August 2026)

Compensation & Benefits: $2,700-$6,000 flat stipend, up to $500 travel reimbursement, and room and board (details below).

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a flexible timeline until all positions are filled.

The Organization:

At Thrive Scholars, we provide high-achieving students from under-resourced communities, the opportunities they need to thrive at top colleges and in meaningful careers.

Our comprehensive and data-driven program model focuses on the key inflection points that can be the difference between graduating from any college and graduating from a top college with the grades, degree, career skills, and network needed to thrive in any career. Thrive Scholars originated in Los Angeles as South Central Scholars (“SCS”) twenty years ago. Over this time, the organization has refined its program model and, in the last five years, has focused on expanding nationally; reaching more high-achieving underrepresented students, growing the number of Scholars we serve; and deepening our program impact. Thrive Scholars has begun to grow its footprint with new summer program offerings in three additional cities, with more to come. The organization has approximately 75 year-round employees and close to 200 summer employees.

The Program: Summer Academy - Residential & Commuter:

Summer Academy has long been the keystone of Thrive Scholars’ Six-Year Program, offering a signature summer experience through intensive college-preparatory courses taught by college instructors. Thrive’s current strategic direction builds on the success of our residential Summer Academy to expand our impact by establishing commuter-based Academies in cities across the United States. We launched our first two commuter programs in Los Angeles and New York City in 2024 and Chicago in 2025, while simultaneously continuing to offer the residential Summer Academies for Scholars who do not have an academy in their community. We expect to continue extending our reach to other cities in the coming years.

The Students:

Our students are high-achieving, including first-generation college-goers from under-resourced communities, with an average high school GPA of 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. They are eager to learn, inquisitive, and highly motivated to succeed. In general, they see themselves as good students who perform well in school and are determined to live up to that expectation. When scholars attend their first summer academy, whether commuter or residential, they are a rising high school senior.

The Opportunity:

The College Readiness Fellowship (Fellows) is a paid, residential summer program for current college students interested in building leadership, mentorship, and program management skills while making a meaningful impact. Fellows support talented rising high school seniors and incoming college freshmen from under-resourced communities as they prepare for success at top colleges and beyond. This immersive experience offers Fellows the opportunity to build transferable skills, practice hands-on leadership, and gain professional development in one of Summer Academy’s operational areas: Program Coordination, Operations Management, or Campus Experience Facilitation. Fellows play a vital role in creating a welcoming, engaging, and empowering residential environment for more than 400 scholars across both campuses.

During the Fellowship, participants serve as near-peer mentors and leaders at Thrive Scholars’ Summer Academies, held at Washington University in St. Louis, MO and University of Miami in Miami, Florida.

Key Responsibilities:

The Fellowship is designed to give you

Leadership & mentorship experience in a residential setting

• Serve as a role model and near-peer mentor for high-achieving high school and college students
• Facilitate workshops, group activities, and community-building events
• Provide guidance, support, and safety while fostering an engaging and inclusive residential environment
• Set and maintain professional boundaries with scholars, while upholding Thrive and campus policies; monitoring attendance, and exercising discretion at all times.
• Contribute to a welcoming, inclusive, and connected community
• Learn to address challenges proactively and collaborate effectively with peers and supervisors.

Hands-on practice in programming and project management

• Co-lead, and in some cases lead, impactful programming such as workshops, campus activities, off-campus trips, and evening activities
• Manage at least one project connected to your professional interests in our established Operational Zones (e.g., programming, operations, or student support)
• Practice problem-solving, decision-making, and collaboration with peers and supervisors

Professional training from experts in college access, systemic equity, and program design

• Receive training in leadership, mentorship, and college access work
• Set personal leadership goals and reflect on progress
• Work closely with site leadership staff who will provide coaching and feedback
• A meaningful chance to positively impact the lives of students navigating the transition to college while reinforcing the importance of career and economic mobility.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Currently enrolled in a four-year college in the U.S. (any citizenship status welcome)
• Experienced in leadership, mentorship, or student support roles
• Passionate about working with diverse, underrepresented students
• Reliable, enthusiastic, and committed to creating positive change
• Professional in setting boundaries and exercising discretion as near-peer leaders
• Highly dependable, with a strong focus on fostering a positive, student-centered environment.
• Experience working with youth, ideally in diverse, residential, and/or camp settings, preferred.

If you are offered a fellowship at the University of Miami site for Summer Academy 2, please note that this fellowship will require an additional Level 2 background check in accordance with University of Miami policies. If this requirement applies to your fellowship, instructions will be provided to you during your onboarding.

Compensation, Benefits, and Program Dates:

Below are the programming dates for Academy I and Academy II along with the compensation package. Please note, Fellows are expected to focus fully on fellowship responsibilities during the program, with one scheduled day off per week.

1. Summer Academy I (Washington University- St. Louis, MO)
2. 1. Dates: June 1 – June 13 (virtual) | June 14 – July 31 (on-site)
   2. Compensation: $6,000 stipend (*paid in increments)
   3. Up to $500 travel reimbursement
   4. Free room & board (Family housing is not available)

1. Summer Academy II (University of Miami - Miami, FL)
2. 1. Dates: June 29- July 9 (virtual) | July 10 – July 26 (on-site)
   2. Compensation: $2,700 stipend (*paid in increments)
   3. Up to $500 travel reimbursement
   4. Free room & board (Family housing is not available)

*Stipends will be paid in increments throughout the summer and are dependent on Fellows’ satisfaction of program requirements and responsibilities.

Working Environment & Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a seasonal employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role:

• Frequent sitting, talking and listening and occasional walking, bending, stooping, and pulling
• Handle and operate computers, tools or controls
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• See clearly in an indoor and outdoor environment
• Work in an indoor classroom environment that may not have air conditioning in the summer
• Travel off campus (transportation will be provided and advance notice will be given if required)
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunities:

Thrive Scholars provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. Knowing their importance to the success of our work, Thrive Scholars is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

For more information, please visit thrivescholars.org