GRACE Academy & Annual Corazón Ball

Mentors Needed

Strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them

We're seeking female mentors who want to join us at the Mentor Brunch in late January 2027 and the Annual Corazon Ball to celebrate GRACE Academy participants' growth.

Frequently asked questions

What else is included in the program?

• Corazon Kit - Academy Journal, T Shirt, Pen

• Pre-Ball Rehearsal w/Lunch

• Up to 10 Tickets to Ball (including participant)

• Option to purchase additional tickets to Ball for $75/person

• Alumni connections and support - Quarterly follow up sessions through 11th grade.

What is the program eligibility?

• 9th - 11th grade girl in 2026/2027 school year

• Resident of Austin, TX area since at least April 2025

• Living in Austin or surrounding area during 9 month program

• Strong aspiration to attend college - demonstrated by an application and a virtual 15 - 30 minute interview

• Able to commit to 100% participation in all events

• Signed agreement/contract to participate and abide by code of conduct

Investment

• The cost of the program is $3000, paid in full by April 1, 2027

• Ball Gown - in any color other than white

• 100% Attendance at all events - 3 Saturday events (Sep 2026, Jan 2027, May 2027) , 3 virtual 1 hour meetings

• 2 Caregivers/Parents as Escorts at Ball

Why is this program offered only to girls?

Research consistently shows that girls in single-gender leadership environments take more intellectual risks and allows girls to perform better in leadership roles. GRACE Academy leverages this by creating a high-psychological-safety zone where participants can fail forward and build a powerful peer network to support them through high school and beyond.

Additionally, a long term goal of this initiative to drive pay parity between women and men in the workforce. Even after controlling for education, job major and tenure, women remain underpaid in the workforce. According to a 2026 study, 2024 data shows women earn 76 cents for every dollar earned by a man in the US. Of particular note is that the average lost wage by women over a 40 year career is about $540k, women of color (Black, Hispanic/Latina, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Native American) each lose more than $1 million over a lifetime at today’s rates.

The initiative will build a mindset and provide tools critical to showcase impact and progress in workplaces.

Who designed the curriculum?

The program was designed by Isis Martinez, who combines her 20 years of professional experience in strategic people management, a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and her personal experience as a mother of three high achieving teens attending AISD public schools. Her design is also informed by a year of in-depth research into the college admissions process, the cost of attending college, government financial aid systems, and scholarships.

Isis has dedicated her career to executive coaching at global tech companies, management consulting firms, and non-profit organizations. She is passionate about community service: she has served on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Central Texas (GSCTX) since 2023, where she has been a volunteer and troop leader since 2017. Her approach combines professional rigor with a deep empathy for the development and well-being of young people.

Can you tell me more about the Corazon Ball?

The Corazon Ball will be the premiere "coming of age" celebration designed for the modern era. As the capstone of the GRACE Academy experience, it will provide a stage for program participants to debut their social impact initiative to a supportive audience of family, mentors, and local trailblazers. The Corazon Ball will be held in a sophisticated Central Austin venue, will include a high-end dinner, the vibrant sounds of a live Mariachi band, and a DJ.

How does this curriculum impact university applications and the cost of college attendance?

This experience will not only generate social impact, but will provide an enriching opportunity for growth and demonstrate the student's distinctive profile in applications to competitive universities and scholarships.

Additionally, the recent changes to the maximum loan amounts a student or their parents can borrow over four years of college, scholarships are increasingly critical to cover tuition, room, and board. At a minimum, the total cost of attending a public university in Texas is $22,000 per year; a public university outside of Texas is $40,000 per year; and a private university is approximately $70,000 per year.

The new laws place limits on what students and parents can borrow for college through financial aid. The maximum a student can borrow over the course of four years is:

1) For students who are dependent on their parents, and whose parents qualify for loans: $27,000 total (with only $19k eligible for subsidization).
2) For students who are dependent on their parents, but whose parents do not qualify for loans: $45,000 total (with only $19k eligible for subsidization).
3) For parents who qualify for loans:$20,000 per year, per student.

What is the GRACE Academy Curriculum?

The GRACE Academy Curriculum focuses on research-based recommendations by the American Psychological Association on grit, resilience and self esteem in youth combined with the neuroscience of compassion, focus and values-driven goal setting and activate these concepts in the student as she is guided in defining a passion project idea, timeline and execution plan.

This experience will not only drive social impact but will provide an enriching growth opportunity and demonstrate the student's uniqueness in their applications to competitive and elite universities. By starting at the beginning of 9th -11th grade, participants gain the necessary runway to build and execute a social impact endeavor that will combine the student's interests and values while learning more about their community along the way.

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