DTS college juniors Noemi and Jasmine spent their fall semester in Madrid, Spain. Grateful for being part of a program that supports their education and personal growth, they were eager to share some of their experiences with you, the people who make DTS possible.

Please read our 2024 recap to learn about some of our major accomplishments over the last calendar year. These successes were only possible because the community’s steadfast support; everyone’s investment in the organization has made a powerful difference in the lives of DTS students and their families. Thank you all!

All of our college freshmen are now on their respective campuses – from down the street at UCLA all the way over to Vassar College, in Poughkeepsie, NY. As they settle into their own environments, they are figuring out the balance between academic and social demands as well as learning how to live independent of their families.

I have been a student in DTS for the past seven years but working behind the scenes this summer was a completely new experience. As an Elementary Education major at Cal Poly Humboldt, all of my classes and work experiences have always been with younger children. So this summer was an opportunity to see if after I graduate I want to teach a higher grade level.

Each summer, our college students are required to apply for internships related to their fields of study in order to hone needed skills, making them more likely to be hired post graduation. Not only do these internships provide an opportunity to see if the particular career field is a good fit, but it helps develop their work ethic, interpersonal skills, and build their professional network. Two of our college students, Chloe and Noemi, share about their unique experiences below.

On June 23, we honored our 2024 high school and college graduates at the Skirball Cultural Center. It was a wonderful celebration filled with love, laughter, and of course tears. Our college students graduated from USC, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, and Lehigh University.