Ticket to Success

Ticket to Success is a program run by the Sonoma State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics which brings students from local elementary schools to basketball and soccer games. During their visit, students will have an opportunity to tour the campus, meet the head coach and student-athletes, and hear about the importance of pursuing college.

In addition Sonoma State teams will travel to individual elementary school campuses to conduct clinics for the students. There will also be free Ticket to Success sports camps aimed at bringing kids back to Sonoma State University. This continuing relationship with elementary school students will help support early college awareness.

Children exposed to higher education at a young age have a much greater chance of attending college. Through the medium of sports, we challenge students to see themselves going to college. The student-athletes act as role models sharing their own personal experience as a college student while the Coaches talk about the importance of hard work, perseverance, and goals.

Goals

1. Support a college bound culture with local elementary school students.

2. Facilitate opportunities to return to Sonoma State University through free sport camps and clinics.

3. Foster a positive role-model relationship between the student-athletes and elementary students.

What People Are Saying...

"SSU's Ticket to Success program is a wonderful way to encourage interest and participation in athletics and to introduce students to scholar-athlete role models. More importantly, simply bringing students to a university campus and presenting college as a realistic opportunity for all kids can be a real game-changer -- especially for those kids without college-educated parents. We are grateful to SSU for helping our district create a college-going culture for all students."

Jenni Klose
Director, Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education

"The Ticket to Success program inspires and nurtures dreams for the children of Santa Rosa City Schools. The program empowers our youth to consider college attendance as a viable option for their future. When students visit university campuses they begin to imagine collegiate life as a possibility. Believing in every child’s potential, igniting a spark and supporting a variety of experiences for our scholars is essential to their academic development. Partnerships like Ticket to Success with Sonoma State University represents a collaborative effort that is yielding phenomenal results."

Rachel Monarrez, PhD
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction, K-6
Santa Rosa City Schools

"This was the best field trip ever!" - Martin "I think it was very inspiring" - Kendra "They told us to be good at school and we can go to Sonoma State" - Mariah

For more information or to be involved with Ticket to Success, contact Mike Ogg at mike.ogg@sonoma.edu or 707-664-3351.