Each first-year student is placed in a First-Year Experience Course (FYE), with topics ranging from science fiction, social justice, arts and ideas to even Greek and Roman mythology. Each of these FYE courses aims to introduce first-years to the “demands of university-level reading, writing and thinking within an interdisciplinary experience.”

One notable FYE, A Successful Life, aims to give first-generation college students the resources and experience to have a successful journey through college. Students in A Successful Life are now known as Skyline Scholars. This program differs from other FYE courses as it begins in early August, allowing students to get a head start on their education, and ends before Thanksgiving break. In this FYE, students learn time-management skills, what academic resources Trinity has to offer, mindfulness and wellbeing and how to manage life at Trinity. For over a decade, the formerly named summer bridge program has assisted over 300 students in their journey through the world of higher education.

The ability to move in earlier than your peers is an incentive for joining the Skyline Scholar program. Early move-in allows students to acclimate to university life at their own pace, giving them a head start on success. Ashley Mattke, first-year biochemistry major, was on the fence about becoming a Skyline Scholar but saw the early move-in opportunity as something to take advantage of.

“I’m not gonna lie. At first I didn’t really know if I wanted to do it, but I was like let me just move in early and get a feel for it,” Mattke said. “And then I met a lot of people, and it was a great experience for me.”

Skyline Scholars were given the opportunity to move in on Aug. 7, nearly two weeks before regular move-in. Over the summer, Skyline Scholars also participate in activities throughout San Antonio. Mattke’s favorite memory from her summer as a Skyline Scholar was volunteering at the San Antonio Food Bank with her peers.

“It was really fun and working together with my friends was really fun and I got some community service experience,” Mattke said.

Along with incoming first-years, student peer tutors join Skyline Scholar students over the summer and assist with their transitions to college. Sophomore Sabrina Cinque decided to become a peer tutor after her great experience as a Skyline Scholar.

“I decided to become a peer tutor because this was my favorite class last year and I really enjoyed the friendships I made last year,” Cinque said. “So when I was asked to be a Skyline Scholar peer tutor I jumped on the opportunity.”

Cinque looks forward to expanding on and forming stronger connections with many of these students. She also enjoys her mentoring role as a peer tutor and is inspired by their success.

“The class of 2027 is really brilliant and just seeing them already learn is something I continue to look forward to,” Cinque said.

Many peer tutors see themselves in their students, as they too were once Skyline Scholars. Sophia Garza, sophomore neuroscience major and Skyline Scholar peer tutor, shared how previous peer tutors eased her transition to Trinity and how she hopes to do the same for her students.

“I decided to become a peer tutor because last year when we were moving in and the peer tutors talked, I thought it was really fun and interesting how they got to share their experiences and how they were once in the shoes I was about to be in,” Garza said. “So that’s why I wanted to take on the role as a peer tutor to give advice to others and say, ‘It’s okay, we’re gonna get through it, we were all once there.’”