“Because of SAVE, I see my future differently.” What are our students saying about SAVE?

Every day in SAVE’s programs, our students are discovering who they are, what they love, and where they’re headed next. From the first day they walk into a classroom full of laughter and learning to their first visit to a college campus, they’re building the kind of confidence and curiosity that lasts a lifetime.

At SAVE, we believe exposure changes everything. That’s why our students don’t just talk about the future, they experience it. Whether it’s exploring Creighton University’s lecture halls, creating moving robotic hands at Metro Community College, or sitting down to lunch with college students, every activity is designed to spark possibility.

🧠 Learning Beyond the Classroom

“I loved when we made our own food at Metro!” said Riley, a 6th grader from Birchcrest. “We get to have fun and go to colleges.”

Prosper, also from Birchcrest, shared, “My favorite memory was making our moving hands with MCC. I like making stuff and learning about leadership.”

Hands-on experiences like these turn curiosity into confidence. Students aren’t just hearing about college, they’re walking through it, eating in the dining halls, and imagining themselves there one day.

🤝 Mentorship and Friendship in Action

For many students, SAVE is where they first feel truly seen and supported.

“I get to play sports and hang out with everyone,” said Jeremiah, a 5th grader at Wake Robin. “I want to be a pro athlete…maybe basketball or baseball!”

Others find mentorship that sticks with them: “I like getting to play sports and seeing Ms. Tania, Mr. Zaki, and Mrs. Lauren,” said Ian, also from Wake Robin. “I want to go pro in the NFL or MLB.”

Through mentorship, students learn not only about careers and colleges, but about teamwork, resilience, and leadership.

🌟 Big Dreams Ahead

The dreams coming out of SAVE are as diverse and inspiring as our students themselves:

• Hiyat, from All Saints, wants to become a doctor.

• Sandra, from Holy Name, dreams of becoming a teacher.

• Jet, from Birchcrest, plans to attend Wayne State and become an Air Force pilot.

• Gabby, from All Saints, wants to sing like Selena.

• Meah, from Birchcrest, hopes to “help the world and rescue animals.”

Every student’s story reminds us why SAVE exists: to make sure young people know they belong in spaces of opportunity on college campuses, in careers, and in their communities.

💛 The Impact of Exposure and Connection

Students like Eloise, who remembers seeing Creighton’s “big lecture rooms,” say experiences like these help them dream bigger. For many, it’s their first time on a college campus, and that moment changes everything.

They begin to see themselves not just as kids from Omaha, but as future leaders, creators, and change makers.

This is what your support makes possible. Every hour of mentorship, every college visit, every project built in AMP is an investment in a young person’s belief that their future is limitless.

✨ Because of You

Thanks to our community, partners, and donors, SAVE is empowering hundreds of students each year with over 1,000 hours of mentoring, leadership development, and future-readiness programming. Together, we’re helping students not only imagine their future, but step boldly toward it.