Skip to content

PeerForward

The PeerForward Blog

Back to Blog

A Look Back at PeerForward’s 30th Workshop Season

The Movement

AMPLIFY THIS ARTICLE!
Social Share:
This summer, we at PeerForward had our 30th annual Workshop season! With the help of our staff, volunteers, alumni, and advisors, 178 rising seniors received valuable leadership training and earned their Peer Leader status.  
Alumni and Peer Leaders at Wayne State University.

Our first Workshop was held at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. It served all our students from Detroit, giving them the unique opportunity to stay at and explore a college right in their backyard. Our second Workshop was held at The University of San Diego. Students, staff, and volunteers alike raved about the beautiful campus and top-notch food options. Our third and final Workshop of the season took place at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Largest of the season by far, the energy was off the charts.  

While at their Workshops, our students received the leadership training necessary to prepare them for their roles as Peer Leaders. In addition to crafting their personal statements and making a college list that best suits their needs, they learned about our three high-impact, student-driven campaigns. Throughout the school year, they will be promoting these campaigns in a way that will best suit the needs of their communities.  

Peer Leaders with their advisor at VCU.

This season wouldn’t be the same without our incredible PeerForward volunteer Writing Coaches and College Coaches! We welcomed 54 volunteers to serve as postsecondary guides for our students, 19 of which were Alumni of our program. In small groups, Peer Leaders met with their Writing Coaches to begin crafting their personal statements. They also had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with one of our virtual College Coaches to create a list of best fit colleges they plan to further explore.  

Peer Leaders at University of San Diego.

As always, the Workshop season wouldn’t have been possible without our outstanding summer staff! We were joined by 53 seasonal staff members, including 45 PeerForward Alumni. Members of our two new dynamic development cohorts—Coaching Development and Operations Development—had the opportunity to flex their skills and put their training into use. Their influence will be felt for years to come by our Peer Leaders. 

As we wrap up the 2026 Workshop season, we want to take a moment to thank everyone involved in making it a success. From our seasonal staff and volunteers to our amazing advisors, you all make our work possible. We can’t wait to see what this next year has to offer!