About Us
How We Serve
Volar is a scholarship completion program guiding first-generation college students from enrollment to degree completion. Volar provides free individualized college and career advising to first-generation students in the Dallas area. Our advising model is free, flexible, culturally relevant, and built around students' schedules. We've created an innovative hybrid model to reach students across the metroplex, combining virtual, individualized support with in-person opportunities so our reach extends far beyond zip codes and high school campuses.
Volar Scholars receive personalized case management, one-on-one advising, skill-building workshops, and career guidance, along with emergency financial assistance and connections to key resources as needed. Our support doesn't end at high school graduation. We provide continued guidance through college graduation or career achievement, because we know the journey has its ups and downs.
Book Today
🗓️
Book Today 🗓️
Our Commitment
At Volar, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to take charge of their destiny and become part of a strong, empowered workforce. Our commitment to free, accessible, high-quality advising drives our mission to change lives through higher education in Dallas and expand social mobility.
Our Why
Data shows that first-generation students graduate college at lower rates than their peers. We want to change that. We believe the next generation of our workforce should be strong and empowered, and that every student deserves the chance to take charge of their destiny.
Our Story
Volar was founded in 2022 to empower first generation students with individualized and intentional college and career advising. We serve as an additional layer of support outside of school. The inspiration for Volar came from the personal journey of our founder, first generation college graduate, Cynthia Gudiel.
Cynthia Gudiel is a Dallas native and deeply passionate about education and social mobility. She holds bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Markets & Culture, as well as a master's degree in Education Policy and Leadership, all from Southern Methodist University.
She began her career as an immigration paralegal, later transitioned into school operations management, and eventually found her way into college access work. As a college access manager for KIPP DFW, she oversaw a team of advisors supporting hundreds of high school students throughout Dallas. This was a dream job helping students navigate the steps toward their college journey.
That clarity of purpose led her to found Volar.