Former Foster Youth Succeeds at Humboldt, ELITE Program Boosts Graduation Rates

Published Nov. 7, 2025, the story of Stephanie Murillo traces a path from foster care in Los Angeles to academic opportunity and research abroad, illustrating how one university program can shift life trajectories and produce measurable results. Murillo enrolled at Cal Poly Humboldt with the support of the ELITE Scholars Program, which provides mentoring, mental health resources, and practical assistance with housing and car registration. That support was a critical factor in her acceptance to a research fellowship in Mexico studying structural violence against women.

Program level data published by the university shows 391 former foster youth have enrolled at Humboldt to date, and 51 percent of those students have earned bachelor degrees. Those figures position ELITE as outperforming national averages for foster youth graduation, reflecting an intervention that moves beyond single supports to a comprehensive approach. ELITE also helps students access internships and graduate school pathways, creating bridges from degree completion to employment and advanced study.

For Humboldt County residents and policymakers the economic implications are multiple. Increasing degree attainment among students who experienced foster care expands the local skilled labor pool at a time when rural regions face shortages in health services, education, and public administration. A higher graduation rate also signals potential long term increases in earnings and tax receipts, reduced reliance on public assistance, and stronger community stability as students transition into local careers. Internships cultivated through ELITE create direct pipelines between campus talent and regional employers, improving recruitment efficiency and reducing onboarding costs.

From a fiscal perspective, programs that raise graduation rates can be viewed as investments in human capital with returns that accrue to families, employers, and local government. Wraparound supports that address basic needs such as housing and transportation reduce drop out risk and unlock academic potential. In Humboldt, those operational realities matter for retention of young adults who might otherwise leave the region for urban centers, and for building a workforce that supports regional economic development.

Policy discussions in Sacramento and at local government levels often center on scaling effective support models. ELITE offers an evidence based template combining counseling, logistical help, and academic advising. Expanding partnerships between universities, county services, and employers could amplify these gains, particularly if funding streams prioritize continuity of care and work based learning opportunities.

Stephanie Murillo's fellowship and the program's overall graduation performance underline a larger point for Humboldt County. Targeted, comprehensive supports can alter outcomes for historically underserved students, producing both social mobility for individuals and tangible economic benefits for the community.