Join us at the 2024 DOI Gala Event

Become an OMD coach

By volunteering just a few hours a month, you can make a lasting difference in a scholar’s life and career. OMD provides the training and tools for coaches to effectively support our hardworking scholars.  Our 2024-25 coaching application is now open! 

Apply Below
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One Million Degrees 2024-2025 New Coach Application

**Note:** If you were a 2023-24 coach OR if you are interested in TCT coaching, please do NOT complete this form. Reach out to coach@onemilliondegrees.org for the appropriate form for you.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with OMD! OMD is recruiting volunteer coaches for the 2024-2025 academic year. Volunteer coaches play a critical role in OMD’s unique program supporting community college students. As an OMD Coach, you will help ensure students reach their potential by serving as a mentorship, providing thoughtful goal-setting support and celebrating their success. 


Please note the OMD Coach qualifications:
  • Have an education level of at least an Associate's degree.
  • Have a passion for supporting community college students with diverse backgrounds, coaching them through challenges, and celebrating their successes.
Once you submit an application, you will need to complete the following requirements to become a coach:
  • (Optional) Attend a 30-minute virtual coach info session
  • Complete coach training
    • Coaches will receive asynchronous training prior to the first coaching session. This will also include a Diversity and Inclusion training component. 
  • Agree to a criminal background check
  • Sign and submit a One Million Degrees Coaching Agreement


Coaching Location Preference
   
Please rank your first location preference below. We're planning for in-person programming for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

OMD aims to accommodate each applicant's location preference, so please plan to be placed at your location preference unless OMD Staff contacts you directly about alternate arrangements. 




Once you become an OMD Coach, you will be expected to:
  • Participate in five 2-hour Scholar Development Sessions during the academic year with your assigned scholars. These sessions will take place in October, November, January, March and May. Coaching sessions are held on scheduled Saturday mornings from 9:30 am-11:30 am. Coaches are assigned to a specific program location based on their preference.
  • You will be matched with 4 scholars and engage with the same scholars throughout the academic year, including 2 additional coaches in a 3:12 coach-to-scholar ratio to support your scholars as a coach trio.
  • Be available outside of scheduled coaching sessions and commit to at least one phone or email exchange with your assigned scholars per month.
  • Submit a brief monthly activity report to One Million Degrees staff about your relationship with each of your scholars.
  • Set goals with your scholars throughout the year.
  • Notify your scholars and an OMD staff member if you are unable to attend a coaching session. Please note, OMD asks that coaches do not miss more than one coaching session in an academic year. 

The application that follows will take less than 20 minutes to complete. Questions? Contact an OMD Staff member at coach@onemilliondegrees.org. 
Once you become an OMD Coach at Harper, you will be expected to:
  • Participate in one 90-minute coaching event per month during the academic year (October-May). Meet with your assigned scholar for a coaching session during these events. Coaching events are held on scheduled Saturday mornings. Coaches are assigned to Harper College and will attend their location’s coach event each month. 
  • Please note: OMD coaching events will be virtual for the 2023-24 academic year.
  • Be available outside of monthly coaching sessions and commit to at least one phone or email exchange with your scholar per month.
  • Submit a brief monthly activity report to One Million Degrees staff.
  • Input scholar goals and deliverables using the OMD Coach Portal. 
  • Attend one 90-minute Diversity and Inclusion workshop.
  • Notify your scholar and an OMD staff member if you are unable to attend a coach meeting or coaching session. Please note, OMD asks that coaches do not miss more than two coaching meetings in an academic year. 
Questions? Check out the OMD Coaching Frequently Asked Questions 

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Example: Originally from Iowa, Anne moved to the Chicago area in 2014 to participate in an Americorps program. Currently, Anne serves as a Finance Manager for One Million Degrees, a non-profit organization in Chicago that supports community college students. When not working, Anne enjoys running, playing soccer, and exploring new restaurants in the city.



Please note that coaches must commit to attending these Saturday sessions. The dates for these sessions will be available later in the summer, and you do have the exception of missing one of these five sessions. 





Contact Information

David Scherer

David Scherer

One Million Degrees Co-founder 

David is principal of Origin, co-chairs the Investment Committee, and oversees investment analysis, acquisition and asset management. He has more than 20 years of experience in real estate investing, finance, and asset management. In 2006, he co-founded One Million Degrees, which has raised $20 million to help low-income community college students graduate and successfully enter the workforce. David has served as the organization’s Board Chair for the past 12 years, as the organization has grown from 30 to 1,000 students served per year. He also serves as the President of the Harvard Club of Chicago and is on the Advisory Board of Invest for Kids.  

Rose Lizarraga

Rose Lizarraga

OMD CO-Founder & President & CEO, Lysa LLC

An award-winning documentary filmmaker and freelance writer, Rose’s career also includes 10 years spent developing new product and brand strategies as well as marketing and advertising campaigns at Leo Burnett, Foote, Cone & Belding, M&M/Mars and other small businesses.  More recently, she worked as a writer/editor for Modern Luxury Inc., publishers of magazines such as CS and Angeleno.  Rose graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with dual degrees in English and Political Science.  She is a founding member of the Daniel M. Kerrane, Jr. Foundation, former Board Vice President of the Fairy Godmother Foundation, and currently serves on the Chicago committee for Human Rights Watch.

Michael B Golden

Michael B. Golden

One Million Degrees Co-Founder 

A former national award-winning broadcast journalist, Michael Golden has also served as a political campaign manager and communications strategist for U.S. Presidential, Senate and Congressional races. Michael is a fellow at the British-American Project and the Open Society Institute. In 1999, Michael’s investigative and public affairs reporting for NBC earned him honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the AP, and the Edward R. Murrow Awards. In 2011, Michael co-founded Newsbound, Inc., a media and software company based in San Francisco, CA. He is also a co-founder of the Complete the Degree back-to-college initiative in Chicago, Illinois. Michael serves on the board of the ADL and on the governing board of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, as well as the Illinois Commission to Eliminate Poverty. He received his B.A. from Indiana University, and his M.S. in Public Services Management from DePaul University.