Southeast Student Juggles Education with Commitment to Area Youth

Red Wing, MN (May 4, 2026) – Alyvia Xiong loves working with Goodhue County youth so much; she didn’t want her college education to interfere with her work at a local nonprofit.

Thanks to the Red Wing College Promise program, Xiong was able to attend Minnesota State College Southeast part time, while serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer at RiseUp Partnership, where she coordinates the youth council.

Xiong discovered RiseUp while a junior at Red Wing High School.

“I've always loved working with students and seeing their motivation to be even better adults,” said Xiong, who works closely with high school youth. “They have so much energy, they have so much life. They’re simply amazing. I 100% love the work.”

Seeing how the students embrace new opportunities inspires Xiong.

Jenna Collins, Director of Programs at RiseUp, first met Xiong when she started as a high school student, and serves as her current supervisor.

“Alyvia has grown into a dynamic leader within our organization, taking on key roles such as leading the Community Youth Council (CYC),” Collins said. “One of Alyvia’s most impactful initiatives has been working to place youth on the boards of local nonprofit organizations, helping to shift systems toward more inclusive and youth-informed leadership. In addition, she has created meaningful volunteer opportunities for CYC members, keeping them actively engaged and connected to their community.”

Xiong said her parents, who came to the United States as refugees from Laos more than 20 years ago, have always encouraged her and her three brothers and younger sister.

“They are super supportive of my work and my education, because they want me to be better than them, but also a better version of myself,” Xiong said.

Coming from a family of five siblings, Xiong acknowledged that divvying finances for everyone to attend college was a challenge. Her three older siblings attended Southeast, but she was the first in the family to have the benefit of the Red Wing College Promise, which was established in 2022.

Without the financial support, Xiong said it is hard to imagine herself attending college, let alone continuing her work as an AmeriCorps volunteer. She’s grateful to the program’s donors for making this resource possible, as well as the flexible schedule and online courses at Southeast, which allow her to stay actively engaged with her volunteer work.

Xiong said that her time at Southeast has allowed her to explore a range of subjects from managerial accounting to sociology. Along the way, she’s gained even more confidence and discovered a close-knit group of amazing professors and peers.

After earning her associate degree in 2027, Xiong hopes to continue her education by earning a bachelor’s degree in youth studies at the University of Minnesota. Ultimately, she would like to continue working with youth and the community, while also being “open to gaining new experiences along the way.”

Given her experience, she’s already encouraging the youth she works with to think about the Red Wing College Promise and pursuing their education at Southeast.

“I found my passion here at Southeast,” Xiong said. “I get to work with the most amazing people in the community and work with the most amazing students.”