A Note to Our Community

For the past 12 years, it has been our honor to serve and positively impact the lives of students and families across the Salinas Valley through leadership development, college readiness, and community service. We are deeply grateful for the trust, enthusiasm, and partnership we’ve experienced from students, parents, educators, volunteers, and supporters.

At this time, the Salinas Valley Dream Academy will not be running a cohort for the 2025–26 school year. We’re still discerning next steps, and we will share any updates about future programming on this website. If and when applications reopen, we will post clear instructions and timelines here.

Thank you for your continued support and for believing in the potential of our youth. It has been a privilege to walk alongside our community, and we remain inspired by the dreams and resilience of Salinas Valley students. For general inquiries, you may reach us at ruben@svdreamacademy.org.

Apply

The first step is to submit an online application (by clicking on the link below).

DREAM ACADEMY APPLICATION

Our new application for 2025-2026 is now ready! You can now submit your application!!

Applying to the Dream Academy is a very competitive process so please be as thorough and transparent as you can in order for the admissions committee to have a complete picture of who you are and why you should be accepted. We want you to write from your HEART and to share as much as you’re comfortable sharing. We’re not looking for perfect students or students who have it all together but we are looking for people with positive attitudes who are willing to serve, grow, and travel alongside others. We’re looking for people who own their mistakes and want to better themselves and their community. If that’s you- you’ve come to the right place!

Online Application

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE REMINDERS FROM OUR ACADEMY

Once you have applied, please TEXT this message (@app25-26) to this phone number (81010) as soon as possible. Note that this is a different code because we already reached the limit of 150 users but both will receive the same messages. Doing this will sign you up to receive important text messages related to the Dream Academy, including deadlines and reminders.

If you need to contact the Director, Mr. Pizarro, please either email him at ruben@svdreamacademy.org for important matters or call or text him at 831-229-7969 for quick questions. Please DO NOT text him using the Remind app. 🙂

Remember to also check your email frequently as you will be receiving information about important next steps in the application process.

Interview

In past years, after students applied online, we’ve been able to interview every one of them. However, this year we may or may not be interviewing all students. Be aware that for the most part we will be making a determination on your application based on what you write in your online application. So, please be as thorough, honest, and transparent as you can when you apply so we can get to know you as much as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact the Academy Director, Mr. Ruben Pizarro, at ruben@svdreamacademy.org or 831-229-7969.

Complete Required Documents

Shortly after you apply, you will be notified whether you’ve been accepted into the Dream Academy. If you’ve been accepted, you will need to complete and submit all 3 required documents included below as soon as possible to become officially enrolled. We’re also going to email you so you can provide us with a copy of your health (medical) insurance card.

Student-Parent Contract

Student-Parent Contract
Spanish

Hold Harmless Agreement
English

Hold Harmless Agreement
Spanish

Medical Authorization Form
English

Medical Authorization Form
Spanish

PAY ENROLLMENT FEE ($70)

Once you have submitted all of the required documents above, you must pay a $70 enrollment fee. You will be required to pay that fee by using Zelle (the bank’s electronic transfer system). You can send the $70 using the Zelle app or transfer it using your bank’s Zelle system by sending it to ruben@svdreamacademy.org in the app or using your bank’s website. Please write your FULL NAME on the note at the time that you make the Zelle payment so we can credit the payment correctly.

This money will be sent directly to the Dream Academy’s bank account and used to pay for a small portion of the transportation fees the Dream Academy incurs when taking students to college visits and field trips, among other expenses.

PAY DEPOSIT

Once you have completed all of the steps above and you have been accepted, you must make a deposit payment directly to the travel agency using the ENROLLMENT LINK. Instructions on how to make the payment along with the enrollment link will be emailed to you once you have completed all of the steps above. If you have questions or concerns about the deposit, you should contact the Academy Director before making your payment.

As the contract states, your deposit payment and all your monthly payments are non-refundable because (among other things) the trip price is based on the total number of student travelers.

Contact the Academy Director, Mr. Ruben Pizarro, at ruben@svdreamacademy.org or 831-229-7969, if you have any questions or concerns. Undocumented students are encouraged to apply though they may not be able to travel.

Be sure to take advantage of this life-changing opportunity! We look forward to reviewing your application, getting to know you better, and growing together as a Dream Academy family!

Thank you!