{"id":45,"date":"2026-09-18T19:47:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T19:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2026-volume-7-issue-3\/a-30-million-promise-for-next-generation\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T00:01:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T00:01:00","slug":"a-30-million-promise-for-the-next-generation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/fall-2026-volume-7-issue-3\/a-30-million-promise-for-the-next-generation\/","title":{"rendered":"A $30 million Promise for the next generation"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Dariana Zavala got home from kindergarten, school was just beginning. She would race to her bedroom, grab her dolls, and lead them in reciting their ABCs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Zavala is no longer pretending to be a teacher but working toward becoming one, pursuing San Jacinto College\u2019s Bachelor of Applied Science in early childhood education<\/a><\/span>. And her childhood dream is happening thanks to the Promise @ San Jac Scholarship<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Promise Scholarship didn\u2019t create my dream of becoming a teacher, but it gave me the opportunity to pursue it — to turn something I dreamed about as a child into a real career goal,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning dreams into degrees<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Portrait

Dariana Zavala<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Zavala numbers among nearly 14,000 students who have become Promise Scholars since 2021. Like nearly two-thirds of Promise Scholars, she is the first in her family to pursue a degree.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Promise @ San Jac Scholarship removes one of the biggest barriers to earning a degree: paying tuition. Promise covers 100% of in-district tuition for eligible high school seniors living in San Jac\u2019s taxing district.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe scholarship allowed me to focus more on my classes and my future instead of worrying how I would pay for my education,\u201d Zavala said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Funded through generous donors, Promise has provided more than $11.8 million in tuition and academic support to students pursuing workforce certificates and associate degrees. Some, like Zavala, pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree at San Jac after completing their Promise funding.<\/span><\/p>\n

The community\u2019s investment is paying off. Not only are Promise Scholars graduating and persisting at higher rates than their peers, but the in-district college-going rate has climbed from 40.7% to 56.8% in less than five years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Investing beyond the classroom<\/span><\/h2>\n

Promise\u2019s impact extends beyond college.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each fall, about 2,500 in-district high school graduates become Promise Scholars. After finishing at San Jac, they bring new skills into the workforce while strengthening their families\u2019 economic stability.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe students supported through Promise become the nurses, technicians, educators, first responders, petrochemical operators, and skilled workers who keep our community and economy running,\u201d said Dr. Samantha Miro, San Jacinto College Foundation executive director.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe students supported through Promise become the nurses, technicians, educators, first responders, petrochemical operators, and skilled workers who keep our community and economy running.\u201d — Dr. Samantha Miro, San Jacinto College Foundation executive director<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For Miro, that makes Promise much more than a scholarship program.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lasting investment in the region’s workforce and economic mobility,\u201d she said. \u201cIt will allow more students to enroll, persist, and complete credentials in high-demand fields and start the next chapter of their journey without the burden of student loans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Reaching the goal<\/span><\/h2>\n

The community has invested significantly in that vision. Thanks to nearly 650 individuals, industry partners, foundations, and community organizations, San Jac reached the $30 million Promise endowment goal to ensure the program is here to stay.<\/span><\/p>\n

The endowment ensures that San Jac will remain in a position to offer financial support for eligible students in this region, though community members may still support Promise Scholars to expand and scale its reach and impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany students continue to face financial obstacles, family obligations, and life challenges that interrupt their education,\u201d Miro said. \u201cCompleting the endowment ensures future generations of Promise Scholars can access the financial support to overcome those barriers and succeed long-term.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That future matters even to community members whose children and grandchildren have already finished college. When students earn credentials and enter careers, employers gain talent. Families experience greater financial stability. And the community benefits from the resulting economic growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love the idea of helping children learn, grow, and become more confident in themselves. I want to create a classroom where my students feel safe, supported, and excited to come to school.\u201d — Dariana Zavala, Promise Scholar and future elementary teacher<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For Zavala, that impact will begin when she welcomes kids into her classroom for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love the idea of helping children learn, grow, and become more confident in themselves,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to create a classroom where my students feel safe, supported, and excited to come to school.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A gift to Promise makes dreams like Zavala\u2019s possible for students now and for generations to come. Learn how to become a Promise Partner<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Promise by the Numbers<\/span><\/h2>\n