How it all began...
Taylor Gurnea and Cooper Richardson have owned and operated Boosted Learning, a private in-home tutoring company, since 2015. This private company has successfully served hundreds of students in the Washoe County area over the years. Though Boosted Learning has helped many families, they have desired a way to gain exposure and to give back to students that are considered educationally high risk. In 2018, Taylor and Cooper were approached by Washoe County Human Services Agency (WCHSA) to consider being a part of their program called Achievements Unlocked, which provides educational support to foster students that are under the care of their agency. Before the start of the school year Boosted Learning officially partnered with the WCHSA to help provide services to their students. After an incredibly successful year that nearly doubled the capacity of the program, it became clear that it was their passion to continue, and more importantly expand, their work with these amazing children.
What Comes Next...
Taylor and Cooper's involvement with providing tutoring services to the foster youth of Washoe County led to the birth of Boosted Diplomas, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with the mission to provide every child in the Washoe County foster system with the opportunity to excel in school and graduate with their diploma. Their goal is to expand the program until each child has access to the educational support they deserve. Boosted Diplomas will seek to ensure that each of these children are better prepared for life after high school and equipped with a plethora of opportunities to be successful in their endeavors whether they seek to enter the work world, vocational training or a college.
Meet the founders...
Taylor Gurnea
Taylor Gurnea holds a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which he obtained from the University of Nevada in 2015. He further pursued his passion for healthcare by enrolling in the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine, where he graduated with a Medical degree and completed his studies in the class of 2021.
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Throughout Taylor's journey, he gained years of invaluable experience providing supplemental education to students in Northern Nevada. Witnessing the transformative impact of personalized educational support on students became a personal passion for him. Taylor firmly believes that every student deserves access to the vital resources needed to thrive, and he aimed to bridge this gap as a Co-Founder of Boosted Diplomas.
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Since graduating from the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine, Taylor has embarked on the next phase of his professional development. He is currently completing his residency training in Albuquerque, NM. As he advances in his medical career, Taylor remains committed to the mission of Boosted Diplomas and continues to contribute his expertise and insights to the organization's endeavors.
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With his extensive background in education and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by struggling students, Taylor's dedication to closing the gap and providing personalized educational support remains unwavering. As a vital member of the Boosted Diplomas team, he plays a pivotal role in ensuring that at-risk youth receive the guidance and resources necessary to achieve their full potential.
Taylor Gurnea's commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for all students, combined with his medical expertise, fuels his drive to make a lasting difference in the lives of those he serves. Through his contributions to Boosted Diplomas, Taylor helps shape a brighter future for the students and communities he supports.
Cooper Richardson
Cooper Richardson is a passionate advocate for education and travel, with a deep commitment to empowering at-risk youth. From a young age, Cooper recognized the transformative power of education and the invaluable experiences gained through travel. Thanks to the encouragement of educationally supportive parents, he had the opportunity to explore these passions extensively.
During Cooper's undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada Reno, pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with minors in Spanish and Mathematics, a pivotal moment arose. He made the bold decision to take a year off to backpack through South America, immersing himself in diverse cultures and perfecting his Spanish language skills. This transformative journey ignited a newfound appreciation for the potential of education and travel to shape individuals' lives.
Upon returning, driven by this experience, Cooper and his business partner, Taylor Gurnea ran and operated a for-profit tutoring company called Boosted Learning. Operating in the Reno/Sparks area, Boosted Learning aimed to support local clients in their academic pursuits. As their business grew and his own studies continued, he recognized a disheartening reality—the students who needed educational support the most often lacked the means to access it.
Motivated by a desire to bridge this gap, Cooper and Taylor embarked on a mission to establish a non-profit organization dedicated to educationally supporting at-risk youth. In 2018, after graduating with his degrees and balancing a full-time job at a tech company, running Boosted Learning, and volunteering his time to build and run a non-profit, Cooper at last co-founded the non-profit Boosted Diplomas in 2019.
After two years of volunteering his time to Boosted Diplomas to run its programs and expand its services, Cooper at last left his full time job to devote all of his working time to Boosted Diplomas. Today, as the Executive Director of Boosted Diplomas, Cooper leads the organization with unwavering dedication. Simultaneously, he continues to manage Boosted Learning, ensuring that the for-profit enterprise actively supports Boosted Diplomas' programming. Cooper embraces his role as an advocate for educationally at-risk youth, working tirelessly to provide free tutoring, educational advocacy, and college and career coaching to those in need within the community.
Cooper takes immense pride in the impact Boosted Diplomas has had on the community, recognizing the countless lives it has touched. With a profound understanding of the transformative power of education, he remains resolute in his commitment to equipping the next generation with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive, just as he was fortunate enough to have during his youth.
Through his exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication, Cooper Richardson continues to shape a brighter future for at-risk youth, leaving an indelible mark on the community and beyond.