About Open Door Scholars
Every scholar has a story. Ours begins with a simple belief: education can change the course of a life.
Our Story
My inspiration for Open Door Scholars came from working with young people in juvenile hall. Many of them seemed to have never had someone truly care for them or about them. As I earned their trust, I felt a responsibility to help them reach their goal of earning a GED.
The greatest joy came when they passed the exam. I saw their pride, felt their gratitude, and could see the hope in their eyes. Those moments showed me how much it matters to have someone believe in you and help you succeed, and how education can open doors for someone who needs a fresh start.
What I hope to address is the challenge of finding someone to help you navigate the next steps. Earning a GED or enrolling in college can feel overwhelming when you do not know where to begin. I chose to start with GED preparation because it is an important first step toward college, career training and employment, and it gives us a clear, achievable goal to work toward together. In 2025, I founded Open Door Scholars to offer guidance, encouragement and consistent support, so people have someone to turn to as they move forward.
Our Mission
Open Door Scholars helps justice-impacted adults rebuild their futures through GED preparation and support for reentry success. We provide academic tutoring, career pathway guidance, community college enrollment assistance and connections to community resources. We also extend education support to foster youth and students facing barriers. We believe every person deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and build a brighter future.
Our Vision
A future where every person, regardless of their past or circumstances, has access to education, opportunity and the support needed to achieve lasting success.
Our Values
Hope
We meet every scholar with the conviction that their best chapters are still unwritten.
Education
We believe learning is the most powerful tool for transformation a person can hold.
Opportunity
We open doors and walk through them alongside our scholars.
Accountability
We keep our promises, measure our impact and steward every dollar with care.
Community
Lasting change happens together: scholars, supporters, partners and neighbors.
Who We Serve
Our focus is people returning from incarceration: adults who are ready to earn a GED, continue their education and build a career. We also support foster youth preparing for graduation, college and independence, and students facing barriers who need help to stay on track. Different journeys, the same promise: education and a genuine path forward.
Meet the Founder
Randy Morales
Founder & President
Randal “Randy” Morales is the founder and president of Open Door Scholars. He began his career in education more than 20 years ago in career colleges and Career Technical Education, serving as a tutor, teacher, program director, director of education and college president. He then worked at Central Juvenile Hall, helping incarcerated youth, students facing barriers and foster care teens prepare for their GED. For the next 13 years, he worked with the 19 community colleges of Los Angeles County as a grant manager and regional program manager, supporting career technical education and workforce programs across the region. Randy holds an MBA from Los Angeles Pacific University and a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. He founded Open Door Scholars in 2025 to help people returning from incarceration earn their GED and step into college, training and careers.
Why I started Open Door Scholars
At Central Juvenile Hall, many of the young people I worked with seemed to have never had someone truly care about them. As I earned their trust, I felt a responsibility to help them reach their goal of earning a GED. The greatest joy was the day they passed the exam: I saw their pride, felt their gratitude and could see the hope in their eyes. Those moments showed me how much it matters to have someone believe in you. Open Door Scholars exists so more people have someone to turn to, with practical guidance, encouragement and steady support for the next step.
Randy Morales
Accountability & Transparency
Open Door Scholars Inc. is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN 39-4249538. California Registry of Charities and Fundraisers No. CT0403066.