INAUGURAL COHORT

Her Climb Cohort 2026

Meet the inaugural group of students beginning their Her Climb Journey.

Read Press Release

Students come from the following neighborhoods:

The Bronx, Corona (Queens), Far Rockaway (Queens), Harlem, Upper Manhattan, and Washington Heights

Students come from the following public high schools:

Bronx Academy of Letters
High School of Arts and Technology
KIPP New York City College Prep High School
Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics
Murray Hill Academy
School of the Performing Arts
Urban Assembly School of Media Studies

Cohort Snapshot

Average GPA: 87
Schools represented: 7 public high schools
Borough representation: 4 boroughs across NYC
First-generation college-bound students: 44%
Cohort demographics: 37.5% Black, 43.75% Hispanic, 18.75% Multiracial/Other

Student Voices

“I would like to join Her Climb because I wish to have the opportunity to broaden my cultural, civic and academic skills. I feel that being a part of your program will help prepare me for college and support me in building the necessary skills to become a better advocate for my community. When watching the media and reading about issues within marginalized and underrepresented communities, I have noticed that issues within these groups are generally overlooked and minimized... A significant issue within the field of journalism is the lack of female, Latino/Hispanic representation [and] I would like to help fill this gap, to ensure that my community is well represented in the media coverage. The reason I would like to become a journalist is to help bring awareness to systemic social issues occurring in underprivileged communities. Through my work as a journalist and a leader in my field, I hope to help our communities mitigate and ultimately resolve many of the challenges we encounter.” Calais YM. (Harlem), Murray Hill Academy | Dream College: Columbia University

“I am eager to join Her Climb because I deeply resonate with its mission of empowering women in leadership and fostering a supportive community for professional growth. As someone who is passionate about breaking barriers and uplifting others, I believe this program will provide me with unique opportunities that have not been available to me before. Through Her Climb, I hope to develop essential skills that will be invaluable for my future career, such as effective communication, resilience, and creative problem-solving. Learning from experienced mentors and sharing experiences with like-minded colleagues excites me. I am confident that these interactions will inspire me to overcome challenges and further ignite my passion for creating art and pursuing leadership roles.” Shanarani S. (Corona), High School of Arts & Technology | Dream College: Columbia University

“My passion for writing, which sparked in middle school, is increasing, and there are limited opportunities at my school to grow my writing capabilities. When I learned about Her Climb I was excited about the four tracks you offer, specifically journalism. I’ve been looking for a program that would offer leadership training, college prep, and a supportive network, but most do not have a writing focus. Her Climb is different, it offers a chance to work towards my future career. I hope to gain the ability to analyze texts, write with better grammar, writing flexibility and establish a writing style/voice.” Zanna C. (Washington Heights), Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics | Dream College: Amsterdam University College

“I struggle to believe that my voice has value and meaning and through Her Climb, I feel like this program can help me explore this side of my life and truly help form me into the woman I’m meant to be. Through Her Climb, I wish to build the confidence to use my voice and grow into a leader who can inspire others to believe in themselves and learn to value their thoughts.” Liana R. (Harlem), KIPP NYC College Prep High School | Dream College: Brown University