Columbia College Foundation Keeping its Process

On March 23rd the Columbia College Foundation (CCF), College Leaders, Community supporters and Columbia College Promise Students participated in a celebration breakfast marking five years of accomplishments for the Columbia College Promise program.  

Launched in 2018 to provide a full year of free tuition and fees for high school graduates who enroll fulltime immediately following graduation, the Columbia College Promise has served more than 1,000 recent high school graduates since its inception. 

“The impact has been tremendous, and continues to build,” said Foundation President Charles Segerstrom. “Student and families realize the value of coming to Columbia as a great first step after high school.”  

This effort has evolved to provide housing for students who are in crisis, internet “hot spots” for those facing technology challenges, and a special Leadership Education Program to help students develop their leadership skills. Most importantly, the program itself has been expanded to cover two full years of free tuition and fees to Promise Students.  

The Promise Program will continue into the Fall, as “Free for Me,” a one-year offering by the Yosemite Community College District (Modesto Junior College and Columbia College), comes to an end. Additionally, Columbia is preparing to launch an enhanced counseling and mentoring program to further benefit Promise Students as they pursue their educational dreams.  

“This program has been a true partnership between the community and the college,” said Segerstrom. “It’s showing our high school students that Columbia is a smart choice, we want them here and we are here to support them every step of the way. They’re getting the message and they’re counting on the Promise. It’s a great community investment.”

The Promise Program serves recent high school graduates from Tuolumne, Calaveras, and parts of Stanislaus Counties. Funds can be used for Trade and Technical education, Associate of Arts Degrees and transfer readiness to four-year colleges and universities.

For more information contact the Columbia College Foundation office at 209-588-5065 or visit www.gocolumbia.edu/promise.  

Press Release Link