Dreamscape Scholars

Dreamscape Scholars are changemakers who receive access to mentorship, financial support, and networking opportunities through this program.

The Dreamscape Scholars Program application is paused for the 2022-23 school year.

About the Scholars Program

Dreamscape Scholars will not just seek to meet or move the bar, they will reposition the brackets and post – redefining excellence for themselves and everyone with whom they connect. Daversa Partners, technology’s premier executive search firm launched Dreamscape in 2020. Dreamscape is dedicated to ensuring there is Black representation within the most important tech start-ups and companies of our generation. This scholarship program is committed to mentoring three amazing scholars as they bring bold, innovative thinking to their workspace and their community, and act as a catalyst for change.

Meet the 2022 Dreamscape Scholars

Favour Asu
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Favour Asu

San Jose State University

KIPP Public Schools Northern California

Favour Asu will be attending San Jose State University in the fall to study computer science. He hopes to push for greater innovation in tech that makes people’s lives more convenient and equitable. For his Dreamscape application, Favour proposed creating a nonprofit organization called Teen Hope, focused on suicide prevention in his hometown of Oakland, CA. Recognizing that suicide is a leading cause of death among 10- to 34-year-olds in the US, and that teens having suicidal thoughts are often afraid to seek help due to stigma, Favour envisions a teen-led organization that offers peer-to-peer counseling in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. His plan includes an advertising campaign to reach local community members.

Marionna Harris
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Marionna Harris

Jackson State University

KIPP Public Schools Northern California

Marionna Harris is headed to Jackson State University in the fall, where she intends to major in computer science and help change the statistics for Black women and women of color in STEM. For her Dreamscape Scholars application, Marionna presented a proposal to address gun violence in her San Francisco community, by building a youth-focused community center. This facility would offer basic necessities like food, clothing, and bathroom facilities, as well as providing a safe space for students to learn and thrive after school. Her vision also includes an “Each One Teach One” mentorship program, where young adults would be matched with formerly incarcerated community members or others trying to move forward from challenging circumstances.

Mirochclavia Salomon
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Mirochclavia Salomon

University of Pennsylvania

KIPP NYC  Public Schools 

Mirochclavia Salomon is excited about attending the University of Pennsylvania this fall, where she plans to explore her interest in Medicine. For her Dreamscape Scholars application, Mirochclavia proposed a community center to address housing insecurity in West and North Harlem, where more than 2,000 students live in shelters or temporary housing. Called Future4Families, this facility would offer wraparound services including temporary housing, food, clothing, career guidance, and mental health services. Mirochclavia envisions this center as a haven for families in Harlem, with community members volunteering and donating.

Dreamscape Scholars will receive:

  • Stipends for critical expenses and last dollar tuition and room & board support  
  • An annual paid summer internship with the Dreamscape Team or one of its partners every summer during college  
  • A one-on-one mentor from the Dreamscape team who will support them through educational and professional pathways  
  • An invitation to KIPP’s Alumni Summit which includes registration and travel expenses  

Ideal Candidates

Selected scholars should demonstrate the qualities listed below through a two-part application process. The first portion will be an application with a required essay, resume, transcript, and recommendation letters.  The second portion, for selected semi-finalists, will be a presentation and pitch on how the scholar would use $150,000 to solve a current problem in their own communities.  

  • Academic Perseverance with demonstrated growth in academic progress and investment in their own learning
  • Personal Resilience and the ability to tell their “victory” story. A moment when they persevered to get a personal “win” despite the odds.
  • Leading through Inspiration demonstrated through school and extracurricular involvement that includes compassion for others and service to their communities
  • Bold Thinking and Innovative Problem-solving demonstrated through answers in the application exercises and real-life examples of innovators that inspire them
  • Changemaker demonstrated through their answers in the application exercises and consistent desire to see their communities thrive

About Dreamscape

In 2020, Daversa Partners considered ways the firm could uniquely and effectively make an impact focused on intentionality and inclusivity. The result was Dreamscape, the firm’s largest stand-alone business unit which is dedicated to ensuring there is Black representation on the boards and executive teams of the most important companies and investing firms in technology. “Modern technology is one of the greatest opportunities for wealth creation and societal impact — with most of the financial returns accruing to the founders, early employees, board directors and investors in the breakout startups from each generation. Moreover, diverse executive teams and boards of directors’ lead to better results — they drive higher returns, decrease risk, and increase key performance metrics. However, Black executives have largely not been afforded the same opportunities in tech startups and venture capital.” Dreamscape was built on the premise that the tech community does not, in fact, have a pipeline issue, but rather it suffers from an access problem to diverse leaders – this business is committed to creating industry wide equity and transformation.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Dreamscape Scholars will receive stipends to cover critical expenses and/or last dollar tuition and room & board support of $12,500.00/year and totaling $50,000 over four-year.

    • Critical expenses and/or last dollar tuition and room & board support – $8,333.33/year
    • Approximate summer internship earnings – $4,166.67/year
  • The 2022 application is now closed. To be eligible, you must be a Northern California, ​Southern California, or New York City current KIPP High School senior or Northern California, ​Southern California, or New York City KIPP Middle School Alumni in their high school senior year.   

     

  • Ideal candidates will be able to demonstrate academic perseverance, personal resilience, leading through inspiration, bold thinking and innovative problem-solving, and an articulated desire to be a changemaker.  Additionally, we encourage applicants to ensure their application and essays speak specifically to their resilience and resulting triumph and personal positive outlook. Tell us about a time you experienced a personal win․ What is your story of personal resilience and perseverance? (150-200 words max)․ Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf. 

  • The 2022 application is now closed.

  • No. Current KIPP High School seniors or KIPP Middle School alumni in their senior year of high school are eligible  

  • No. This program is only open to high school seniors, not KIPP alumni. 

  • The 2022 application is now closed. 

  • The 2022 application is now closed. Semi-Finalist were notified via email during the week of March 14th.  

  • No, the pitch presentation will be virtual. For specifics on the pitch presentation please see HERE.

  • If you have any other questions, feel free to email Jose Mazariegos at jmazariegos@kipp.org.