High school seniors, local elected officials and San Diego School District representatives gathered today with one message for students, “There is money for college and there are people to help you get it.”
In a unified effort to encourage seniors to find “cash for college” local educators and elected officials announced their efforts to promote 13 upcoming financial aid workshops in San Diego County schools with a special “promotional” incentive – a $1,000 Cash for College scholarship offered to one student at each workshop.
The events which run through March 1 help students complete the federal and state forms to apply for college aid assistance.
“California is facing a water drought this year, but we’re also facing another kind of drought – a drought of highly skilled workers and adults with baccalaureate degrees, post graduate certificates and two-year degrees,” said State Senator Marty Block (SD-39).
He added that it is critical that high school students not only meet the educational requirements for admission and success in college, but also have the financial support they need to further their education and become part of the skilled workforce critical to California’s economy.
“Only 35 percent of California’s adults now have a four-year degree or higher, but by 2025, 41 percent of the state’s jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or higher,” Block said. “One study estimates that we will need an additional 60,000 baccalaureate degrees a year, on top of the 150,000 baccalaureates now produced by California’s public and private colleges.”
In addition to Block, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (AD-80), U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CD-52) and San Diego Unified School District Board Trustee Richard Barrera participated in the news conference and said they would assist in promoting the workshops.
Students and parents may visit http://www.calgrants.org/applications/workshops.cfm?navId=25 to find a “Cash for College” workshop location in their neighborhood and to learn what students must bring with them.
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