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Grant Increases Benefit College-Bound Students
Stan Co Office of Ed

The Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) will receive a significant scholarship grant in 2016 from the College Futures Foundation to continue investing in local college-bound students. This grant totals $500,000 and is the sixth and final scholarship grant award provided to SCOE, with the first beginning in 2010.This brings the total funds awarded from the College Futures Foundation to SCOE since 2010 to $2,339,500.

“College Futures Foundation is proud to be a partner with SCOE and Stanislaus high schools in helping to realize students’ college aspirations,” said Julia Lopez, President and CEO of the College Futures Foundation. “In doing so, we are collectively planting the seeds for a vibrant future in the county.”

“In partnership with the College Futures Foundation, SCOE has been able to provide assistance to students, their families, and school staff over the past several years,” said Kandy Woerz, Program Coordinator at SCOE. “Together we are continuing to build a college going culture within our communities.”

In addition to scholarship funding, College Futures Foundation is working in partnership with SCOE around strategic outcomes that include:

• Educating and training school staff to assist students with FAFSA, Dream Act, and CalGrant completion;

• Assisting school sites with GPA data requirements;

• Implementing a data system to track college enrollment and persistence;

• Increase financial aid intake by 10 percent overall at participating schools.

The Access Success Grant program provides up to 105 first-year college scholarships, totaling $150,000, to qualifying seniors at 10 high schools participating in the grant. The Grant also provides up to 95 renewal scholarships totaling $125,000. The participating high schools are: Central Valley High School, Ceres High School, Denair Charter High, Denair High School, Grace Davis High School, Orestimba High School, Patterson High School, Riverbank High School, Valley Charter High School and Waterford High School.

Criteria for selection of scholarship recipients will include financial need, academic performance, first-generation college attendance, and recommendation by a teacher, counselor, or school administrator. Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity for a renewal scholarship for their second year in college. Interested students should contact their school counselors.

College Futures Foundation operates on the beliefs that a vibrant future for California’s economy and communities requires more bachelor’s degrees, and that every student in California should have the chance to succeed in college. College Futures works to increase opportunities for low-income and underrepresented students by removing barriers to college degrees. Established in 2005, the foundation awards $15 to $18 million in grants annually. Together with its grantees and partners, College Futures works towards more graduates for a thriving California. Visit www.collegefutures.org.