OUR PROGRAMS
Providing money alone has never been enough to help a student get to college. In an effort to meet as many of our students as possible in their wide range of interests, diverse learning styles and academic needs, the LC3 offers 10 additional after-school programs, as well as camps and workshops, to support and complement their educational journeys.
Active since 2008
College & Career Advisory
Since most Lapan students are the first in their families to attend college, most come with limited knowledge of how to navigate the complexities of the college admission process, and many from immigrant families struggle with the American system's culture and practices. The Lapan College & Career Club coaches students through the process: helping students to write a winning college essay, applying for FAFSA and scholarships, meeting college application deadlines and navigating the transition into college. Lapan students and families can schedule personal appointments at the Lapan Center with an advisor who will help them walk through the minefields until they attain their college degree and successfully find a career. Workshops and meetings for students and parents are held throughout the year at critical moments of transition.
Active since 2015
College Essay Program
With the changing college admissions landscape, the personal statement is arguably the most vital piece of the college application. The Lapan College & Career Club proudly partners with the College Essay Guy team to provide an annual in-person workshop for LC3 students with a top-level college essay coach. During the 3 1/2-day workshop, students develop at least a first draft of their personal statement alongside a team of essay coaches, digging deep to find and share their unique story that will inspire colleges and scholarship grantors alike to say “yes.” Throughout the year, Lapan coaches continue working with the students, and College Essay Guy provides continued year-round support through their Matchlighters Program.
Active since 2011
Cross-Age Peer Mentoring (CAP)
The Lapan College & Career Club created the CAP program to address the needs of B and C students who were not benefitting from the "$50 for every A." The CAP program targets B and C students at the middle school level by inviting them to be mentored by top-performing "A" Lapan high school or college students who are trained as mentors using a month-by-month curriculum guide addressing, among other things: monitoring weekly assignments, time management, personal organization, the creation of a Professional Portfolio, community service, leadership, career exploration and personal goal setting. The strength of this program is the focus on personal relationships and building trust through one-to-one weekly sessions at the Lapan Center.
Active since 2008
El Jardin Community Service Program
The Lapan El JardÃn Garden & Greenhouse, filled with tropical trees and plants, is an iconic landmark in the Wakefield community and a powerful metaphor for nurturing and cultivating young people as they prepare for a college career. Through the El JardÃn community garden, students learn to grow vegetable gardens, tend to the fruit trees in the orchard and manage the aquaponic and worm farm composting systems and rain re-capture systems while simultaneously learning nutrition, cooking and environmental sustainability. The garden provides Lapan students with an easy opportunity for community service that is locally accessible and also addresses local issues of food insecurity and obesity.
Active since 2020
Lapan Art & Design Class
The Lapan Art & Design Class is a space where students can play and experiment with ideas and art techniques to express themselves, create beauty, tell a story and find their unique style as an artist. Taught by artists, students also learn to discuss their art and present their ideas as a personal brand, and learn the entrepreneurial skills required to make money making art.
Active since 2021
Lapan Music Program
The Lapan Music Program provides an interactive learning environment for our students where they get hands-on experience with an array of instruments, from guitar to drums. Our curriculum allows students to express themselves creatively, build confidence and learn the importance of group effort and teamwork. As students enhance their skills they can join one of our house bands where they rehearse together and perform at our Lapan events.
Active since 2019
Lapan Pet Therapy Program
The Lapan Pet Therapy Program uses a child's love of animals as a tool to teach life skills and promote college readiness. Students learn to care for and appropriately handle pets including dogs, birds, reptiles and even miniature horses! Studies indicate that caring for animals breaks down emotional and intellectual barriers in children and allows volunteers to have meaningful and impactful conversations with the students involved in the program.
Active since 2015
Lapan Robotics Club
In response to the growing demand for college graduates in STEM-related fields, the Lapan College & Career Club launched the Robotics program in 2015. Students learn to build, program and operate robots, integrating principles of physics, chemistry and engineering while gaining dexterity with basic shop tools in the Lapan "maker space." Founded initially by a Wakefield alumnus who was an engineer at Raytheon, and led by local volunteer mechanical and electrical engineers and engineering students from the University of Arizona, the Lapan Robotics Club is a hands-on and project-based program. Each spring, students compete in a Tucson-wide battle-bot competition using robotic vehicles they have designed and created.
Active since 2011
Lapan Soccer Scholar League (LSSL)
Building on the cultural passion for "the beautiful game" among the young people of our community, the LSSL uses soccer as a draw for Lapan students at the middle school level to learn important life skills that will help them both on and off the field. Teams are coached and mentored by successful Lapan high school and college students who are accomplished in both athletics and academics and are powerful role models for middle school students (including some of our Lapan alumni from the Pueblo High School state championship team, who themselves were part of the LSSL while students at Wakefield!).
Active since 2023
Lapan Sing!
In partnership with the Tucson Girls Chorus, Lapan students of all genders can join the Lapan Sing! Choir. In addition to basic singing skills, students learn to use their voice as an instrument and express themselves more fully, and are empowered to feel more confident in themselves and in making their voices heard. The Lapan Sing! Choir performs in an annual showcase concert and at other Lapan events.
Active since 2008
Portfolio Project
The Portfolio Project encourages students to think strategically about their future and augment their chances of attaining their college and career aspirations. Students first build a resume, which allows them to identify areas of strength and weakness they can build on and address over the next 5 years as they prepare to apply for college. Each Lapan student receives a Lapan Portfolio with nine focus tabs where they can collect and aggregate evidence of their efforts, especially in leadership, community service and career exploration, as well as samples of their best work, letters of recommendation and college and scholarship research. Our goal is for each Lapan student to graduate with a complete professional portfolio, from which they can easily craft their resumes and activities lists.
Active since 2021
Summer Sports Camp
Lapan offers a Summer Sports Camp each summer in June open to Lapan students of all ages. We provide our students who may not otherwise have summer plans with fun, safe, educational and athletic activities in a variety of sports, as well as inspirational guest speakers. The Summer Sports Camp is run by collegiate athletes in an ever-growing list of sports, including softball, basketball, football, volleyball, indoor soccer and fusbol.