On Thursday, May 15, 2025, families, friends and seniors gathered in the M Gym to celebrate the graduation of the 52 seniors who are part of Berkeley High School’s Bridge program. Founded 15 years ago, Bridge was created with the purpose of closing the educational gap based on socioeconomic status.
“Some students are fortunate enough to be born into a family with an education who can guide them academically, who have the money to pay for tutors,” Bridge founder Jessie Luxford said, “What we’re trying to do is level that gap and give the Bridge kids the best tutoring, in person, on Zoom, one-on-one, in any subject.”
The Bridge program has been very impactful, providing the necessary resources for first generation students to attend college. “There are students who are legacies of Yale and UC Berkeley and UCLA, and there are students who are not, but they are just as deserving and just as capable of being in those places, and that’s what a program like Bridge offers,” Erica Gratton, a former Bridge student and current Bridge leadership member, said.
Following a speech from Luxford, students from each cohort came to the front to deliver words of gratitude to their Bridge teachers, reminiscing on memories from the hours spent together. The Bridge teachers followed, giving their own praises and well wishes for the students’ bright futures.
Graduates then came up one by one to receive their sash, with their college decision projected behind them. This year, Bridge students received acceptances from colleges such as USC, UCLA, and UC Berkeley, as well as a myriad of others.
“(I want to) honor the Bridge teachers’ commitment. They go above and beyond in the care that they have for the kids,” Luxford said.
Bridge has not only made a mark on the academics and self-confidence of the graduating class, but opened doors for the rest of their lives.