Community Column: Working to help students succeed

几十年来,, 帕洛阿尔托学院 has made efforts to ensure all students have the ability to continue their education by eliminating different obstacles that might prevent students from earning their degree. Financial obligations often force students to make a choice between paying tuition 和 paying for life's necessities; scholarships can fill the gap 和 keep students enrolled.

帕洛阿尔托学院 offers 42 college-specific scholarships 和 a multitude of scholarships that can be awarded to students across the 阿拉莫大学 区. In 2018-2019, 帕洛阿尔托学院 awarded approximately $360,000 in scholarships to support students pursuing their education.

With over 70% of our students requiring some form of financial aid each semester, we know the importance of providing financial support. For the last decade, our annual scholarship fundraiser, ¡Celebración!, has allowed us to increase our scholarship endowment fund 和 receive dollar-to-dollar matching funds from two U.S. Department of Education grants, which directly support our students' academic success.

Educational partners are imperative to ensuring our community's educational journey continues beyond 帕洛阿尔托学院. In 2018, the University of Texas Rio Gr和e Valley (UTRGV) committed over $1.1 million in scholarship dollars to guarantee five full-ride scholarships for currently enrolled students; scholarships for employees 和 employee family 和 friends; fee 和 testing waivers; 和 graduate research assistantships.

2020年秋季, a new opportunity will be available for graduating high school students pursuing an associate degree at one of the 阿拉莫大学 区's five colleges. 通过AlamoPROMISE, which is funded by public 和 private-sector partners 和 foundations, graduating seniors from a participating high school who meet certain requirements, will be provided two years of tuition at any of the five colleges within the district, including 帕洛阿尔托学院.

In the first year of the program, students from 25 participating high schools will be able to participate, including graduates of Burbank High School, Harl和ale High School, 约翰F. 肯尼迪高中, 麦科勒姆高中, 萨默塞特高中, 南圣安东尼奥 High School, Southside High School, Southwest High School, 和 Southwest Legacy High School.

The continued support from our partners 和 the launch of AlamoPROMISE is part of our goal to eliminate barriers to higher education 和 make a college degree a reality.

As a pillar in south 圣安东尼奥 for over three decades, 帕洛阿尔托学院's collective focus is to ensure our community is prepared to build a strong foundation.

这是博士的专栏. 罗伯特·加尔萨, president of 帕洛阿尔托学院, was originally published in the 圣安东尼奥 Express-新闻' Southside Reporter 和 mysanantonio.com.