{"id":22,"date":"2022-01-24T22:14:41","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T22:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-2022-volume-3-issue-1\/money-is-no-object-promise-scholarship-gives-students-debt-free-start-on-life\/"},"modified":"2022-02-08T14:39:28","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T14:39:28","slug":"money-is-no-object-promise-scholarship-gives-students-debt-free-start-on-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-2022-volume-3-issue-1\/money-is-no-object-promise-scholarship-gives-students-debt-free-start-on-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Money is no object: Promise scholarship gives students debt-free start on life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Considering college, some high school graduates give up before even starting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dobie High School senior Christian Reyes hadn\u2019t given up, but he had plenty of reasons to. COVID-19 was causing global uncertainty. He didn\u2019t want to pressure family to foot his school bill. And most of all, he wanted to avoid student loans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"That\u2019s why Reyes pivoted his college plans after learning about the Promise @ San Jac scholarship in early 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSan Jacinto College wasn\u2019t my only choice,\u201d he said. \u201cI could have gone to a four-year college, but then I would have been stuck with student debt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to Promise, Reyes graduates this fall with a process technology Associate of Applied Science degree \u2014 no debt, no sweat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your bill: $0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Promise @ San Jac is a last-dollar scholarship covering 100 percent of tuition and books after federal and state aid, grants, and other scholarships.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it started in fall 2020 with graduates of three Pasadena ISD high schools, Promise is expanding to every in-district high school senior beginning with the class of 2021-2022. MacKenzie Scott\u2019s $30 million donation to the College last spring is helping to fund a student success endowment that makes this expansion possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

The scholarship promises no student debt and is available to all seniors at participating high schools, regardless of their GPA. Another perk: A certificate or degree offers better career opportunities and income potential than a high school diploma alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Current Promise scholar Keyla Guerrero urged her younger brother not to miss out on college, especially with up to three years of paid-for education and a Promise success coach for priority registration and one-on-one help. Thanks to her encouragement, he is applying for the scholarship and plans to attend San Jac this fall.\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really good program,\u201d Guerrero said. \u201cI recommend it, especially with the amount of resources they offer and how often they reach out to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Like Reyes, Guerrero planned to start at a university, but she opted to stay home and keep money in her pocket. With an Associate of Science in natural science, she can transfer for a bachelor\u2019s degree in biology, then get her high school teacher certification.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t want to pass up two free years,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to transfer. I didn\u2019t see any downsides.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Unexpected doors<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Promise scholarship opens many doors \u2014 some that students weren\u2019t even expecting.<\/span><\/p>\n

At first, Reyes pursued process technology at his parents\u2019 suggestion. Now he embraces that decision. With most classes at the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology, he gets hands-on training in high-tech labs. Plus, his associate degree can lead to a well-paid job at a local refinery \u2014 a good back-up plan and way to fund a bachelor\u2019s degree in engineering.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis career path helps to support my college path,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Because of limited finances, Bianca Compean, a South Houston High School graduate, planned to attend San Jac part time, but through Promise, she is reaching her goals faster as a full-time student.<\/span><\/p>\n

Along the way, Compean even switched to the diagnostic medical sonography program because of her own experience with a pre-surgery ultrasound years ago. Thanks to this \u201conce-in-a-lifetime\u201d opportunity, she is getting quality training at no cost.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to be a sonographer at heart,\u201d she said. \u201cAfter graduating from San Jac, I am hoping to get hired on in the medical field.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

No debt, no sweat<\/span><\/h3>\n

Although the Promise pledge deadline has already passed for current high school seniors, the scholarship will be open to future graduating classes.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Reyes, Promise means he can laser-focus on classes since money is no object. For those on the fence about attending San Jac through Promise, he has two words: \u201cDo it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is free money to pay for your college for up to three years,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can save your money to buy something else or pay for a bachelor\u2019s degree.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more at sanjac.edu\/promise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Give the gift of a bright future<\/span><\/h2>\n

Help current and future Promise scholars by participating in San Jacinto College\u2019s \u201cStep Brightly into the Future\u201d gala Friday, May 20, 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n

Held at the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology at the Central Campus, the College\u2019s 60th anniversary gala will benefit a student success endowment for Promise scholarships.<\/span><\/p>\n

Help our students reach their goals by\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n