11/02/2024
04/09/2024
04/04/2024
It might be mid-summer, but more than 230 local high school graduates are getting ready to take Columbia College Foundation’s offer of free college tuition if they come to Columbia as fulltime students for the fall semester.
“That’s a record for us and it’s exciting!” said Jan Verhage, who chairs the Foundation’s Promise committee. “And there’s still time to enroll -- we’re hoping the numbers go even higher as more recent high school graduates take action in these last couple of weeks before school.”
All interested new students are invited to attend Go Columbia Days for new student orientation August 9 or 10, to take care of final registration steps, meet fellow students, and enjoy campus tours and a free lunch. Columbia also will host a New Student Welcome from 25pm Friday, August 25, before classes start on Monday, August 28. To learn more or register, call the college at 209-588-2194.
Columbia College student Gabe Broyer, a student ambassador who was a new Promise student himself last fall, is eager to welcome the new cohort and help them get connected.
“I really like being that peer who can show new students around, tell them what Columbia has to offer and get them excited about coming here,” Broyer said. “Go Columbia Days especially are some of my favorite days of the year, because it’s so fun seeing them get to know each other, and finding out what it’s going to be like being a college student. The free lunch helps!”
Broyer said the Promise program is what convinced him to come to Columbia right after Sonora High, and he’s been thriving. “Promise gives students incentive to get organized, get connected to the campus and learn what they’ll need to do over the next two years. I hope students take advantage of it and I hope a can be a part of getting them excited and to feel fulfilled here at this campus.”
Now in its 5th year, the program is offered in partnership with the college and private donors. It provides two full years of free tuition and fees for high school graduates who enroll fulltime immediately following graduation. Students also must complete a financial aid application and work with a counselor. The Columbia College Promise has served more than 1,000 recent high school graduates since its inception.
“The word is out, and we are thrilled,” said Verhage. “Students and families realize the value of coming to Columbia as a great first step after high school.”
The Promise Program serves recent high school graduates from Tuolumne, Calaveras, Mariposa, Amador 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 further information about the Columbia College Promise, contact the Columbia College Foundation office at 209-588-5055 or visit gocolumbia.edu/promise.
For information on the Go Columbia Days August 9 or 10, call the college at 209-588-2194.