Planting Seeds for Tomorrow: Milestone Celebration for BiGI Cohort
It was a milestone day for dozens of young students from the San Diego community, celebrating as they close the chapter one part of their lives and take an exciting step into the next. This month, the University of San Diego’s BiGI program celebrated its first cohort’s transition from middle school to high school.
BiGI was launched in 2023, recruiting local sixth graders and their families for a program that would help them build community and — through year-round programming — get STEM and mentoring opportunities. The goal is to support students who face systemic barriers and give them the resources they need to harness their genius and, ultimately, follow their passions into college.
This month’s Rites of Passage event was an important step for everyone involved. Students were beaming as they were presented with stoles to commemorate their graduation, and parents and program leaders were seeing the vision of BiGI take shape and enter a new phase.
"This inaugural ceremony is beyond being a celebration of a single milestone — a single moment. We are planting the seeds of perennial presence,” said Zachary Gabriel Green, PhD, a BiGI community leader. “As we acknowledge our scholars as they enter the 9th grade, we are also called as a community to continue to cultivate and nurture their enduring commitment to excellence and the genius in each — for today, tomorrow and generations to come."
As students crossed the stage, they thought about how they got there, and what’s to come. In the three years since BiGI launched, this cohort has grown closer with each other, and also been exposed to learning opportunities that have equipped them with the tools they need to succeed as they enter high school.
"This ceremony proves that my hard work has a home. With BiGI as my bedrock, I’m entering ninth grade with the perseverance to conquer any challenge and the brilliance to light the way,” said one BiGI scholar.
These students have laid the groundwork for what comes next — for themselves and others. In just a couple weeks, the newest cohort of 60 sixth graders will join the program, following in their predecessors’ footsteps. Across June and July, four cohorts — hundreds of talented, young students — will take part in the annual BiGI Summer Academy.
It’s a testament to the program, following through with its seven-year commitment to each of these students, and to the dedication of each of them to pursue their dreams.
“BiGI has become the bedrock for our family, proving that when our children are met with high expectations and a sustainable community of support, they don't just succeed—they soar,” said Nicholas Hanton, parent of a BiGI student. “This isn't just a ceremony; it’s a promise that our children’s academic journey will always have a home."
Photography by Zachary Barron