November 21st, 2025
When Savanna Dupart reflects on her senior year at Stagg High School, one experience stands out as truly transformative: her time in the Math Bridge course, a partnership between College Bridge, Stagg High School, and San Joaquin Delta College. Math Bridge aligns high school and college mathematics programs, offering a supported, credit-bearing alternative that prepares students for college success.
“I have a hard time grasping concepts at first,” Savanna shared during her senior year, “so this class allowed me to gain that extra support. Professor Schwegel takes the time with me, and all students who may need help, to thoroughly explain content.”
Savanna’s Math Bridge course, led by Ms. Saxton and Professor Schwegel, did more than strengthen her math skills; it gave her a head start on college and a renewed sense of confidence in her academic ability.
“My experience with the Math Bridge course was truly eye-opening,” Savanna said. “I was able to gain real-world skills and preview what college was going to be like.”
As one of the top three completers in her Math Bridge class, Savanna not only excelled academically but also became an advocate for the program, encouraging her peers to enroll and experience its benefits firsthand. Savanna’s passion for equity and student empowerment continues to inspire those who come after her.
Savanna described Math Bridge as “quite revolutionary,” noting how Ms. Saxton and Professor Schwegel introduced students to the realities of college life, from managing deadlines to seeking support and building self-advocacy skills.
“I realized through Math Bridge that when things get hard, you can’t just give up,” she said. “When things don’t go your way, you have to push through, because that’s what is going to shape your future.”
Today, Savanna is thriving as a pre-nursing student at California State University, Chico, while also exploring other medical-adjacent fields. Balancing her coursework with two jobs, one on campus and one off, she credits Math Bridge with equipping her with the skills to manage it all.
“Math Bridge helped me with time management,” Savanna said. “I pay a lot of attention to deadlines and when assignments are due. I even set reminders to ensure I don’t miss one.”
She also learned how to seek out resources and ask for help when necessary.
“Being able to find my resources on campus is something that Math Bridge helped me with. I attend tutoring now as much as I can and ask questions during class if something doesn’t make sense. I think that was my largest takeaway from the project.”
As she settles into her life at Chico State, Savanna continues to stay connected with her Stagg High community, especially Ms. Saxton, whom she calls “almost every week.” She still keeps the motivational notes that Professor Schwegel gave her on the last day of class taped to her wall for encouragement on tough days.
“Even being here at Chico State is a huge accomplishment,” she reflected. “I’m making connections and taking advantage of networking opportunities, which is something Math Bridge taught me.”
Savanna’s leadership journey continues to evolve. Whether she’s mentoring classmates or advocating for programs like Math Bridge, she remains committed to uplifting others.
Savanna’s story embodies what the Math Bridge project is all about: creating opportunity, building confidence, and ensuring every student has the support to succeed in college and beyond.
We are so proud of Savanna, a driven, compassionate, and resilient student whose success reflects the power of access, mentorship, and determination.
Watch Savanna’s journey from high school to college on our Math Bridge page and her interview at Chico State under our Testimonial page.
Are you an educator or school leader interested in transforming the math journey at your school or campus?
Explore our website to learn more about the Math Bridge Project, discover how it’s making an impact, and find out how you can become involved.
– Audra Burwell, Communication Coordinator