Advancing Mission II through our Alumni Program

As we are mission-driven to support our students to become changemakers in the world, Nueva’s Mission II demonstrates the school’s commitment to being a resource for people outside our school community. Typically this means inviting educators from across the world to learn about key aspects of our program and pedagogy by visiting the school or participating in one of the many Nueva institutes.

Recently, Nueva’s alumni program engaged in an important Mission II initiative of its own, partnering with the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) to create an internship opportunity at Nueva to support a first-generation college student’s professional growth and to help diversify the number of professionals in educational advancement. This partnership led to our welcoming Villanova junior Zenaida De La Cruz to work in Nueva’s Development and Alumni Relations Office under the mentorship of Diana Chamorro, director of alumni relations.

“Education is the most powerful tool you can have and is something that has changed my life,” Zenaida, a native of Idaho, said. “Being a first-generation college student has presented many challenges for me, but overcoming those challenges has made my experience even more valuable.”

Zenaida’s work as an alumni relations intern at Nueva has touched the lives of all current and future alumni, as she was integral in the building and launching of MavNet, our networking directory and virtual home for our entire alumni community.

“I loved that I [was] able to positively impact the experience of [Nueva’s] gifted learners at the alumni level,” she said.

Diana reflected on the role that Nueva’s Mission II played in the creation of this professional opportunity for peo ple who have been underrepresented in educational advancement. “As a Latina, I am humbled to be able to mentor students and young people in this way,” she said. “It is critical to continue diversifying our industry, and it is a personal and professional priority to do my part. Guided by Nueva’s Mission II, our community is having a greater impact, one student at a time.”

A Joyful Reunion

Beloved event welcomes grandparents and friends

Back To Campus

After two years of virtual-only presentations, panels, performances, and classroom visits, we welcomed hundreds of cherished guests back to both the Hillsborough and San Mateo campuses for our beloved fall event—Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ (GPSF) Day— for a morning of song, cheer, and connection on November 18. Adding to the day, many community members unable to join us in person were still able to participate in the festivities as GPSF Day offered a hybrid experience.

“Getting the chance to show my grandparents around the halls I so often reference in the stories I tell them was a very special experience. I’m glad to have gotten the opportunity to share a little piece of the magic of Nueva with my grandparents,” said senior Drew S.-S. of hosting his grandparents (pictured above) during his last Nueva