- (540) 446-5008
NOW ENROLLING FOR 2027 | 16 YEARS OLD+
Your Path to a Thriving Career and Community When Traditional College Isn't the Answer
Ascend is a one to three year Christian post-high school program that gives you the skills training, education, and community you need to thrive professionally, academically, and relationally.
JOB
OPPORTUNITIES
for all students within
their first year
JOB
GUARANTEE
or full tuition refund
AS SEEN ON:
You Need More Than a Credential.
You Need Proven Skill and Experience.
A degree used to be the signal employers looked for to signify job readiness. Today, degrees leave skills gaps, experience gaps, and responsibility gaps employers don’t want to risk.
of small business owners have jobs they can't fill
see few or no qualified applicants when they try to hire
say finding capable people is their single biggest operating problem
Source: NFIB Small Business Jobs Report, August 2026. The historical average for that last figure is 12%.
The Gaps are Significant.
Communication
43 point gap
Critical thinking
40 point gap
Professionalism
39 point gap
NACE Job Outlook 2025, a survey of 237 employers fielded August to September 2024. naceweb.org
Ascend Doesn't Just Close the Gaps.
It Builds a Better Foundation.
The traditional college path pulls students out of the real world, Ascend keeps them embedded in it. Students continue to invest in their local communities through their family, church, and job, while networking nationally with a community of likeminded, driven peers.
CollegeFour-year, private Christian
AscendOne to three years
CollegeFour years or more
AscendOne to three years
College$36,800 in debt on average
AscendNo student loans
CollegeCampus bubble
AscendEmbedded in the real world
CollegeLimited space for a job alongside classes
AscendStudent expected to be working part to full time
CollegeOne capstone project per major
AscendAnnual capstone projects, presented publicly, graded, and peer reviewed
College1:30 average ratio of student leader to student
Ascend1:8 ratio of student leader to student
CollegeNo guarantee of employment after graduation
AscendGuaranteed employment within 6 months of graduation, or your tuition back
The Three Year Ascend Journey
Each year of Ascend stands on it’s own, enabling students to design the Ascend experience that will get them to what’s next, whether that’s one, two, or all three years of the program.
Year One: Build Your FOUNDATION
Choose a field or subject you are interested in and take your own idea from concept to reality.
Complete four foundational courses in decision-making, direction-setting, and Christian leadership.
Attend four live student events, one every twelve weeks, focused on community, practical life skills, hands-on team projects, and leadership.
Attend monthly expert-led webinars with the greater class along with monthly team meetings for accountability, connection, and support.
Ascend Foundations Certificate
Signature Leadership CertificateEarned this year
Year Two: Rise to the CHALLENGE
Take someone else's idea from concept to reality, putting their vision ahead of your own.
Complete an interactive three course series in Tactical Communications, Financial Stewardship, and Cultural Engagement.
Attend all four live intensives again, but on all new content tracks alongside your fellow Year Two students.
Continue attending monthly webinars and team meetings, while also gaining the opportunity to apply for Unbound's Internship Program and Ascend Team Leader roles.
Ascend Challenge CertificateEarned this year
Year Three: Move Forward and LAUNCH
Lead a team in taking an idea from concept to reality, either your own or someone else's.
Define your goals and execute with the support and accountability of your coach.
Learn how to translate the impact of your Ascend peer community into your local communities.
Return to all four intensives in a leadership role, complete a series of applications and interviews for your target job, and graduate into the Unbound alumni network.
Ascend Launch Certificate
Final Unbound Certificate**Includes the Ascend Job Guarantee
Meet the Ascend Guides
Event speakers, course instructors, webinar presenters, and more.
Trey Shenemen
Asher Wild
Skye Peterson
Tami Nantz
Mike Ritland
Nathan Rittenhouse
Brett Harris
Ben Billups
Atalie Bale
Sarah Shaw
Andrew Pudewa
Scott Grant
Zan Tyler
Steve Demme
Tamma Phillips
Jonathan Brush
Greg Rhodea
Jeff Myers
Andy Andrews
Stuart McAllister
Cameron McAllister
Josh Taylor
Jared Wiggins
Robynne Miller
Kenyatta Ruffin
What Students Have to Say About Ascend
Where Alumni Go After Ascend
Ascend alumna, Briley Crisafi, works full-time in professional theater as a choreographer, director, actress, and dancer. She also writes, records, and produces content for Wisdom Harbor Studios, an entertainment and education company founded by Andy Andrews. Her connection to Wisdom Harbor came through Unbound’s network and Jonathan Brush. The lessons from Ascend about relational leadership, personal ownership, and trusting God’s direction have directly shaped how she approaches creative projects, builds teams, and navigates uncertainty. She credits Ascend with giving her confidence, community, and the practical skills to turn vision into reality.
Adonijah Ayele first heard about Ascend when he attended his first APEX in 2023. The next year, 2024, he enrolled in Ascend during his senior year of high school. Academics were high on the list of reasons to enroll, but the community is what really attracted him to the Ascend program. He has since written, recorded, and released his first original music album and worked with various student teams to write and film a music video as well as plan mini events for communities across the nation. Adonijah currently works as an intern at Dynamic Aviation, maintaining their facility. He received the connection to Dynamic through Unbound and attributes Ascend with his growth in communication, life, and collaboration which have given him success at this job and favor with his employer.
Riley Maas enrolled in Unbound during high school and studied history, business, marketing, accounting and more eventually graduating at nineteen with a degree in accounting. The Unbound community opened up many opportunities for Riley including the opportunity to work as an accountant at Profit Coach. She worked for Profit coach for five years, growing in leadership, problem solving, and accounting. Riley now works for Unbound as the Accounting Manager. She also directs theater at a local Christian School. During her time in Unbound, Riley grew in her understanding of herself and her capabilities, learned how to let go of her plans and follow the Lord’s leading, and found a supportive community that changed her life.
Shaylee Husmann enrolled in the Ascend program in 2024, looking for community and opportunity. She was intrigued by Ascend’s opportunities to travel, take part in community, and the lower cost compared to college. Abby chose the degree track, taking college classes alongside Ascend’s leadership courses. During her time in Ascend Abby worked on several projects both individually and in teams including training for and receiving her Wilderness First Responder certification, helping write and distribute a Pen-Pal curriculum to connect mentors and mentees, and serving on a community service team. Today, Abby works at Valley Pike Market, through connections gained in Unbound, where they manage day to day operations, serve customers, and train new staff members.
