WWW.SANJAC.EDU College named Foundation raises Grads celebrate, 2 Top 10 in nation 2 $360K for students 4 tailgate style SANJAC.EDU HOUSTON CHRONICLE CUSTOM ADVERTISING SECTION SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2020 2 <<< Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section | Opportunity News | Sunday | July 5, 2020 sanjac.edu News frOm YOur COllege San Jac 3-peats as critically important to our success,” said transportation support, child care Dr. Brenda Hellyer, San Jacinto College access, and tuition assistance, in Top 10 community Chancellor. “These generous donations addition to the food markets and coat college in the nation enhance our ability to help students in closet resources. According to the the ways they need it most. Some face National Alliance to End Homelessness San Jacinto College was named June 9 an unexpected emergency and need (NAEH), there were an estimated 25,310 as one of 10 finalists for the $1 million immediate help, and others are working homeless individuals in Texas in 2019, 2021 Aspen Prize for Community day in and day out to oVercome ongoing with nearly 1,400 unaccompanied College Excellence, the nation’s signature obstacles like food insecurity and young adults ages 18-24. San Jacinto recognition of high achieVement and homelessness. It’s our mission to help all College’s student population of performance among community colleges. students achieVe their educational goals, nearly 45,000 each year reflects the Photo courtesy of San Jacinto College Awarded eVery two years since 2011, and we are so grateful to the community, statewide demographics of these at-risk the Aspen Prize recognizes institutions our partners, and our employees for populations, and the College continues emergency aid grants through the that achieVe strong student outcomes helping us do that.” its mission to meet the needs of its Federal CARES Act. across four key areas: teaching and One hundred percent of the funds diVerse student body. Over the past decade, the San Jacinto learning, degree completion and raised will benefit San Jac students In addition to the $360,500 raised College Foundation has raised more than successful transfer to four-year with immediate needs. The funds will by the College’s Gala with a Twist $15 million, awarded more than 12,000 institutions, success in the workforce, offset costs such as tuition, books, food, fundraiser, the San Jacinto College student scholarships, and contributed to and equitable outcomes for diVerse clothing, transportation, and child care Foundation approVed $200,000 in campus and faculty programs that help student groups. In 2017, San Jacinto for student recipients, and will also help emergency funding in March to assist San Jac students reach their educational College earned the Aspen Rising Star the College continue to provide students students with $250 scholarships during goals. Award; and in 2019, the Aspen Institute with access to vital campus resources. the COVID-19 crisis, and nearly 1,200 To donate to and support the named San Jacinto College as one of “Fortunately, this year’s fundraising students haVe receiVed the emergency San Jacinto College Foundation, the top 10 community colleges in gala — launched in January — was aid to date. Students affected by the visit sanjac.edu/foundation or the country. originally planned as an online pandemic also haVe access to San Jac call 281-998-6104. “It is again an honor to be recognized campaign, so we were able to continue by the Aspen Institute for the incredible our efforts during COVID-19, which work being done at San Jacinto College to has directly impacted so many of our help our students reach their educational students in complex ways,” said Ruth YOU CAN STILL goals,” said San Jacinto College Keenan, the foundation’s executiVe Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer. “This director. “Our fundraising efforts REGISTER FOR recognition is due to the dedication of became eVen more critical in light of our board of trustees, administration, the pandemic.” faculty, and staff to ensure that all of our The campus food markets will be FALL students haVe the resources they need one of the benefactors from the funds and well-planned educational pathways raised, serving San Jac students by to complete their certificates or degrees. distributing food and meal Vouchers to CLASSES On behalf of eVeryone at San Jacinto those in need, eVen during the College’s College, I thank the Aspen Institute for period of altered operation and online CLASSES BEGIN this amazing honor.” classes. According to the United Health Aspen continued on Page 3 Foundation and the United States AUG. 24 Department of Agriculture (USDA), 14 percent of Texas households are San Jacinto College experiencing food insecurities, meaning Foundation raises they cannot easily afford or haVe limited $360,500 for access to food. Other campus resources like the students in need College’s coat closet will be bolstered by the donations, as many San Jac The San Jacinto College Foundation students use the resource for winter raised more than $360,500 with its clothing, eVeryday clothing, and eVen job 2020 Gala with a Twist fundraising interview outfits. campaign, announcing the campaign’s Students experiencing temporary success at the College’s board of trustees obstacles with their living situations meeting Monday, June 15, 2020. due to the pandemic or homelessness “Fundraising campaigns like this are will also be aided by the funds through sanjac.edu Sunday | July 5, 2020 | Opportunity News | Houston Chronicle Custom Advertising Section >>> 3 equipment and program changes to meet the ever-changing and growing needs of the region’S industries. Industry experts work alongside College faculty in programs such as maritime, petrochemical, automotive technology, and health care to ensure the College provides students the skills they need to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Many programs have a job placement rate above 90 percent. “San Jacinto College is always improving,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “The College has comprehensively restructured its Aspen continued from page 2 support services in place where they and Sam Houston State University. Systems to align everything to students’ are needed. From iConnect Centers on Pathways incorporate Texas high school success, from before they enroll until Focus on completion each campus, to First Generation Clubs, endorsements, San Jacinto College they complete a degree. The College The College’S laser focus on student mentors, employer “Meet-Ups,” College meta-majors, and career and is also especially effective in building completion has resulted in a 168.7 Knowledge Fairs, and workshops, transfer tracks. relationships with employers to deliver percent increase in certificates and these increased connections prepare “San Jacinto College has developed what the community needs to thrive and degrees from 2009 to 2019. This is students to transfer or enter the more than 100 program maps to help ensuring that graduates succeed in the result of the comprehensive work workforce. our students complete and transfer,” the workforce.” of employees throughout San Jacinto Since joining the Guided Pathways said Williamson. “I commend the The 10 Aspen Prize finalists were College to advise and track students initiative four years ago, San Jacinto faculty and staff for their work on selected from the nation’S 1,000 from admissions to completion. College has worked to ensure students these pathways because we have been community colleges in a process that The institution has developed an able to decrease the average number included qualitative and quantitative intentional, integrated advising program of semester credit hours to degree 2021 Aspen Prize finalists data analysis and engaged more than to help students succeed. This program completion from 103 in 2012, to was designed to make the student Amarillo College, Amarillo, Texas 30 experts in the field. The finalists all 84 in 2018, saving our students time experience more relational and less Borough of Manhattan effectively identify, develop, and scale and money.” transactional, with career information Community College, New York, N.Y. strategies to propel all students not just and exploration strategically placed Broward College, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to complete college but also to succeed Partnering with community throughout the process. College Odessa College, Odessa, Texas In selecting the top 10 community after graduation. outreach advisors monitor students’ Pasadena City College, Pasadena, Calif. colleges eligible for the Aspen Prize, For the rest of 2020, the Aspen progress and provide help, guidance, Pierce College, Pierce County, Wash. the Aspen Institute also considered Institute will work with a team of and encouragement. San Antonio College, San Antonio, Texas each institution’S labor market national experts to complete a rigorous “We know that our students are more San Jacinto College, Pasadena, Texas Tallahassee Community College, outcomes. The College works closely review process to determine the winner successful when they have a connection Tallahassee, Fla. of the prize. This encompasses a to the College from the moment they with a number of local and statewide West Kentucky Community and comprehensive examination of come to campus to the moment they economic development organizations Technical College, Paducah, Ky. outcomes data as well as multi-day walk across the stage at graduation,” to understand the needs of the region’S virtual site visits to each