Celebrating 20 Years of Scholar Success
2005-2025 Impact Report
Dear friend,
What a momentous two decades it has been. Since joining Collegiate Directions, Inc. in 2017, I have had the great honor of meeting many of our Scholars, alumni, families, and friends past and present.
As exciting as this special anniversary year was, the past 24 months have presented new challenges. A longstanding foundation donor, whose support over a decade had allowed us to grow, shifted priorities at the end of 2024. State grants, which had been a growing source of revenue for CDI, are at risk of elimination. Funding cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits will have a deleterious impact on our Scholars, XX% of whom are from families considered very low-income by government standards.
There is one thing I know for sure: CDI Scholars are achieving what’s possible because they have the support of people who believe in the power of education. Amidst a difficult environment, our Scholars will continue to succeed because of people like you who believe that they, and a college education, are worth fighting for.
With gratitude,
Amma Felix
President & CEO
BA, Syracuse University
MPA, Syracuse University
MPS, Cornell University
Founded in 2005, Collegiate Directions, Inc. is committed to closing the education, achievement, and opportunity gap for first-generation-to-college students in Montgomery County, MD and Washington, DC.
Defying the Odds
90% of CDI Scholars graduate from college – nearly six times higher than their peer first-generation-to-college students from families with limited financial means. This has a profound impact on the trajectory of their lives.
Take Jennifer, CDI Class of 2010, as an example. Just 11 years out of college, Jennifer has gone on to complete a Ph.D., purchase her first home, and develop a rewarding career as a cell biologist.
At times, it seems hard to believe. “If teenage me at Wheaton High School knew that 15 years later, this would be my life – I am sure she would not have believed me.”
“I get often emotional thinking about how much I’ve grown because CDI, and their supporters, wanted to help bridge the gap for first-generation college students like me.”
Jennifer, CDI Class of 2010
BS, Boston College
Ph.D., Emory University
Since our very first cohort, 369 CDI Scholars have graduated from college.
CDI Scholars go on to become medical professionals, researchers and scientists, journalists and social workers, lawyers, teachers, business owners, artists and engineers.
They are infused in the community, and they make us better.
Scientists Saving Lives
Anthony, CDI Class of 2014, earned his Bachelor’s degree at Brown University and is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Yale University’s School of Medicine.
Anthony is researching innovative new treatment options for patients with cancers that are negatively impacted by gene amplification – a process where a cell creates more than two copies of a cancer-driving gene – like ovarian cancer.
Currently, the majority of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease, as there are no screening methods for ovarian cancer. As a result, patients have few treatment options, all of which are invasive and often agonizing – and which often leave room for recurrence down the line.
Anthony is working to develop a new treatment that uses the cancer cells’ own replication process against it, providing more options for individuals who have developed resistance to traditional therapies. His work is currently in the research phase, but he hopes that it will one day advance to clinical trials and show promise for providing new treatment options for ovarian cancer.
Over a third (35%) of CDI Alumni chose majors aligned with the health care sector and physical sciences.
They are helping to address a growing need for college educated workers within the health care sector – which is estimated to be short by 735,000 workers by 2032.
CDI Scholars have matriculated at more than 85 selective, four-year colleges and universities across the country.
When CDI began, our core focus was the Scholars Program.
As the organization has grown and evolved we have expanded our services to meet the needs of Scholars – introducing the Wellness Initiative in 2016 and launching the Career Mentoring Initiative in 20XX. The triple strands of our work directly with students enables us to support the Scholar as a whole person: student, individual, and aspiring future professional.
The fourth strand of our work allows us to meet the needs of the broader community. Since 20XX the School Support Program has worked to expand the college advising capacity of the dedicated education professionals in Montgomery County Public Schools.
Impact of COVID-19
Citlaly, CDI Class of 2018, discovered a career path that combined art and science during her freshman year at Marymount University: interior design. Just three years later, she faced a hurdle that could have derailed her college education.
Citlaly was one of the many CDI Scholars whose college years were abruptly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of 2020 her father, the biggest advocate of her education, lost his job.
Citlaly and her father didn't have to navigate these challenges on their own. CDI's donor-supported SOAR Fund covered the cost of purchasing the laptop and Citlaly's CDI counselor helped her appeal to her school for a revised financial aid package due to her family's changed circumstances.
"It would have been a very hard path for me and my dad to try and do that by ourselves without the guidance of people who know what to do and what not to do."
With support, Citlaly was able to persevere and complete her degree. Just three years out of college, Citlaly has established herself in her interior design career and has a beautiful future ahead of her.
Since 2016, the SOAR Fund has provided 13 Scholars with $22,951.03 to help them surmount barriers to completing their college education.
What CDI Means to our Scholars
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"CDI made the college experience possible. CDI was the key that unlocked my future. CDI’s support was essential in achieving my goal of attending and graduating from college."
Mirko, CDI Class of 2011
Graduate of McDaniel College -
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"CDI made college possible. I was the first in my family to go to college and I would have not been able to navigate the system was it not for my counselor and the CDI team helping not only myself but also my parents. My experience at UVA changed my life forever. I made incredible friends, gained an amazing network and am forever proud of my involvements in my undergraduate career."
Isabel, CDI Class of 2012
Graduate of University of Virginia -
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"CDI changed my life! I would not have been accepted into my dream college and pursued further research opportunities and experiences without CDI."
Aisha, CDI Class of 2016
Graduate of Lehigh University -
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"Collegiate Directions completely transformed my college experience by providing consistent support, guidance, and encouragement. They helped me better understand the application process, clarify what steps I needed to take, and gave me the confidence to succeed. Their mentorship and resources made a significant difference in both my preparation and overall college journey."
Natinael, CDI Class of 2019
Graduate of Tufts University -
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"As a first generation student, CDI impacted my entire college experience. Not knowing where to start, CDI was there with me every step of the way, allowing me to have a support system I could rely on."
Natalie, CDI Class of 2020
Graduate of the Catholic University of America
Telling Stories That Matter
Arlo, CDI Class of 2012, was always fascinated with how the world worked. At Boston College, he chose to double major in Film and Political Science. In his senior year, he realized just how well his two passions could work together.
“The research and the ability to make concise arguments is what I got from PoliSci, and film was a way to express that to someone else, to make it interesting and intriguing, to make something exciting – I really was pairing these high concept ideas with a very accessible medium.”
He went on to become a producer for NOVA, the most-watched prime time science series on American television. His story on the underreporting of COVID cases and deaths in Mexico would go on to win an award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2021.
Watch Arlo’s Award-Winning Feature
244 Scholars actively engaged
From just 10 Scholars in our very first cohort to 44 in our most recent class, philanthropic support has made the growth of our program possible.
Thank you for helping make
20 Years of Scholar Success possible.
As a small nonprofit, our work relies upon the philanthropic support of our community.