Dear Reader,
There's one week left in our Back-to-School September Challenge where you can double your impact for first-generation students. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, all contributions up to $2,000 will be matched dollar for dollar throughout the month in honor of Back-to-School season.
Your support fuels not only national programming but also our growing local Impact Hubs that are transforming student outcomes.
Advocating for First-Generation Students at the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Conference
Barrier Breakers® was proud to represent first-generation students on the national stage at this fall’s National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Conference—the largest annual gathering of college admission professionals and high school counselors (over 6,100 people present)!
Over the course of the conference, we:
- Connected at the Access College Fair, sharing our work with organizations, counselors, and colleges committed to expanding opportunity.
- Engaged at the Counselor College Fair, ensuring institutions know how to better support the students and families we serve and inviting them to participate in our Break into College Conference.
- Presented our session, “Navigating the New Realities: Supporting First-Generation Students in College Admission.” Alongside our founder, Sydney Montgomery, panelists included Janeisha Finch (Dayton Young Scholars Program Manager at Ohio State University) and Aaron Owusu, Barrier Breakers alum, Eritrean-American Olympian, and current OSU student in the Morrill Scholars Program. Together, they unpacked how shifting DEI policies, financial aid challenges, and disparities in readiness are impacting first-gen applicants, the importance of early identification of first-generation students for long-term success,—and offered practical strategies universities and counselors can implement to better support them.
To cap off the weekend, Sydney also met with current Barrier Breakers college students at Ohio State University and visited with our current high school students in the greater Columbus area.
Barrier Breakers Founder Named Obama USA Leader 🌟
This fall, our Founder & Executive Director, Sydney Montgomery, was selected as an Obama Foundation USA Leader for the 2025–2026 cohort. This prestigious program identifies changemakers across the country who are working to strengthen communities, expand equity, and reimagine opportunity.
Sydney’s recognition as an Obama USA Leader is more than a personal honor—it’s a reflection of the transformative work Barrier Breakers® is leading on behalf of first-generation students. Participation in this program connects our organization to a powerful network of leaders, resources, and visibility that will help us:
- Expand our national partnerships with schools, universities, and corporations.
- Strengthen our Impact Hub model, reaching even more students in key cities.
- Elevate the voice of first-generation students in critical conversations about higher education access and equity.
For our community, it means the mission of Barrier Breakers is being recognized—and amplified—at the highest levels. Together, with your support, we’ll continue to break barriers and build pathways so that every student, regardless of background, can succeed.
Break into Practice: 1L Career Summit ⚖️
In recognition of the increasing challenges first-generation and underrepresented law students face in today’s legal and educational climate, Barrier Breakers® is proud to launch the Break Into Practice 1L Career Summit this October. The first year of law school can be overwhelming, and for students without networks of support, the barriers to thriving are even greater.This summit is designed to meet that need—bringing together attorneys, career advisors, and current law students to provide practical guidance on resumes, interviews, and career pathways across all areas of the legal profession. By creating space for mentorship and equipping students with tangible tools, the summit affirms our commitment to ensuring that first-generation law students don’t just enter the profession, but have every opportunity to succeed within it.
And if you missed our recap of our summer Break into Law Conference for pre-law students you can check that out below!
Impact Hub Spotlight: UrbanPromise Trenton
Barrier Breakers® Impact Hubs are our way of going deeper in key cities—building long-term, place-based partnerships that provide first-generation students with sustained advising, mentorship, and family-centered support. With Hubs already growing in Miami, Philadelphia, and Trenton, we’re strengthening the pipeline to college in communities where students face some of the steepest barriers.
This fall, we’re proud to spotlight our partnership with UrbanPromise Trenton (urbanpromisetrenton.org), an organization dedicated to equipping children and teens with the skills, academic support, and spiritual guidance they need to succeed in school and in life. Their mission is to ensure every teen in their program graduates from high school and is prepared for postsecondary success.
Through our collaboration, Barrier Breakers® provides personalized 1:1 college counseling, persistence coaching, and scholarship support —building on UrbanPromise’s proven record of helping students graduate and thrive. Together, we’re ensuring Trenton students not only reach college, but are supported every step of the way.
Break into College Conference
April 17-19, 2026
We’re already hard at work on our next big venture—and we want YOU to be the first to know! 🚀
Barrier Breakers® is proud to announce a groundbreaking expansion in 2026: we’re reimagining the college conference experience to serve high school students, families, and educators navigating the admissions journey.
This free event—expected to welcome 3,000+ attendees—will be a hub for guidance, connection, and empowerment. With workshops, expert panels, and curated resources covering everything from SAT prep to financial aid, engineering pathways to application essays, the conference will equip participants with the tools and knowledge to access higher education with confidence. Alongside the event, Barrier Breakers will roll out a suite of support services designed to make the journey to college clearer and more accessible for all.
🌟 Sponsorship Opportunities
We’re inviting corporations and companies of all kinds to be part of this transformative effort:
- Education-focused organizations can showcase their services directly to students and families.
- Companies wishing to give in-kind donations (like dorm essentials or school supplies) can ensure students feel supported as they prepare for campus life.
- Philanthropic partners can make a powerful impact by helping us keep the event free and accessible for every student.
This is your chance to stand alongside us in creating equitable pathways to higher education—and to help us make college dreams possible for thousands of first-generation students.
Stay tuned: college access is about to get a major boost.
Your Support Makes This Possible
As the school year begins, you can make sure more students have access to the guidance, mentorship, and opportunities they deserve. And this month, your gift goes twice as far. If you’d like to continue helping us expand our reach and support more students in person, consider a donation to Barrier Breakers today to help fund further expansions. Together, we’re transforming lives and creating opportunities nationwide, one connection at a time.