A groundbreaking partnership between Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) and Arlington County’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has earned the Virginia Parks and Recreation Society’s Best New Program award for providing free college tours to first-generation students and teens living in affordable housing.
The award recognizes the University Trip Series — a collaboration between AHC, DPR, and Arlington Public Schools that is breaking down barriers to higher education access.
The partnership launched in 2024 with six college trips and has expanded to 10 trips this year, taking students in AHC’s College and Career Readiness (CCR) and Teen programs to universities across the region, including Howard University, University of Maryland, Georgetown University, and the University of Virginia. In its inaugural year, the program served over 140 students.
”Our education programs are all about giving students options and empowering them to choose their own path. These college tours, made possible through our partnership with Arlington Parks and Recreation, give students the exposure and access they need to make informed decisions about their futures — whether that’s a four-year university, community college, trade school, or another path that’s right for them.”
– Milenka Coronel Samey, AHC Director of Education
On the trips, students explore campuses, attend information sessions, and often connect with CCR alumni who now attend these schools — giving them the chance to hear from people with similar backgrounds who have successfully made the transition to college. The trips also include enrichment activities like go-kart racing, arcade games, and mini golf, giving students a chance to bond with their peers and experience student life.
“We’re proud of this partnership with AHC that allows us to offer Arlington teens the opportunity to step onto real college campuses and imagine what their future could look like,” Jane Rudolph, Director, Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation, said. “Teen college trips are a great example of investments that support our youth through inclusive and innovative programs.”
The college tours represent a natural extension of AHC’s comprehensive CCR program, which AHC launched in 2016 to close the opportunity gap for high school juniors and seniors living in affordable housing. Since its inception, the program has served more than 350 students, many of them going on to become first-generation college students.
CCR provides one-on-one support with college and scholarship applications, FAFSA and financial aid assistance, weekly school check-ins, mentorship, career networking events with companies like Amazon and Nestlé, financial literacy education, and social and emotional wellness workshops. The program has a proven track record of success: the 2025 graduating class of 32 students received 157 acceptances and were offered $4.625 million in gift aid and scholarships.
The addition of campus visits through the DPR partnership has opened new possibilities for CCR students to explore their options firsthand.
“This partnership represents a model for how community organizations can work together to break down barriers to educational opportunities and create pathways to success,” Samey said. “We’re grateful to have partners like Arlington’s Department of Parks and Recreation who share our commitment to making sure every student has the chance to envision life after high school.”
For more information about AHC’s College and Career Readiness Program, visit ahcommunities.org/resident-services.
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