Pima Community College has received a nearly 1.5 million dollar U.S. Department of Education grant. The money will go to serve low-income and first-generation students interested in degrees in science, technology, engineering or math.
The grant will support 60 students from Alta Vista, Desert View and Sunnyside high schools each year for the next five years
The area served by the 3 schools covers parts of the Tohono O’odham Nation and Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation. Residents in the districts are 84 percent Hispanic and more than 40 percent of the families have incomes less than 150% of the poverty rate. Currently less than 10% of graduates of the area’s high schools earn a college degree within six years of graduating.
In addition to providing students with academic instruction in all required courses, the program will expose students to cultural events, provide college visits and mentoring, and offer workshops on topics such as study skills and choosing a college.
The program also will engage local community partners to provide guest speakers, share career experience and give tours, and encourage community service and leadership development.
