SAC Rings in LULAC Parent/Child Scholarship

In partnership with LULAC Council #2 and the Alamo Colleges District Foundation, the Empowerment Center at San Antonio College is proud to announce the opening of applications for the 2018 Parent/Child Scholarship Program. 

Earlier today, the SAC Empowerment Center hosted an event to ceremonially open the 2018 LULAC Parent/Child Scholarship applications. Texas State Senator for District 26, Mr. José Menéndez, President of SAC, Dr. Robert Vela, as well as Dr. Bruce Leslie, Chancellor of the Alamo Colleges District, and several members of LULAC Council #2, including Mr. Tom Tamez, President, were in attendance. Dr. Robert Vela, SAC President, offered the following remarks during the ceremony. 

“The LULAC Parent/Child Scholarship is the only scholarship in the nation that transforms two generations through education,” he explained. “We are most proud of the individual accomplishments of our SAC students, and we're proud that the program is open to all applicants across the city.”

The scholarship aims to help Parent Scholars by providing financial assistance and extensive support and other services to parents and also awards scholarships to one of the Parent Scholar’s children. 

Each year, 25 Parent Scholars are selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship. The Alamo Colleges District Foundation also provides a two-year tuition and fee scholarship for the child, once the parent completes an educational goal. Annually, LULAC Council #2 donates $25,000 to the scholarship’s endowment. 

Since the scholarship began, 248 Parent Scholars, which includes 25 second-generation scholars, have completed the program by earning a certificate, an associate degree, and/or transferring to a four-year university. 

Overall, students enrolled in the program have an average GPA of 3.0 in their first year, and they average a 95 percent higher fall-to-spring retention rate than those who are not enrolled in the program. 

“Participants in our program are twice as likely to complete their educational goals as compared to non-participants,” said Dr. Helen Vera, Director of the Services for Women and Non-Traditional Services Department at SAC. “Because of the support and collaboration of LULAC Council #2, the Alamo Colleges District Foundation and the services the students receive from our department, this scholarship program has enabled both parent and child to successfully pursue their higher education goals.” 

Applicants wishing to enroll in the program must attend one of the Alamo Colleges, be the parent of a child age six or younger, have no more than 30 college credit hours at a time of applying, a 2.0 GPA, and be eligible for Federal Pell Grant or State Aid. For further information about the eligibility requirements and to apply for the scholarship, visit alamo.edu/sac/swans/scholarships/. The application deadline is June 15, 2018. 

For more information about the LULAC Parent/Child Scholarship Program, please contact the Empowerment Center at 210-486-0455 or email bcastellanos6@alamo.edu.

About LULAC Parent/Child Scholarship
The LULAC Parent/Child Scholarship is a partnership between LULAC Council #2, the Alamo Colleges Foundation and the San Antonio College Empowerment Center that provides scholarships to Parent Scholars and scholarships to the child of a Parent Scholar upon completion of the Student Parent's academic goal. Established in 1997 the foundation has helped 248 Parent Scholars including 25 second generation scholars achieve their academic goals.

Photo Caption: Texas State Senator (District 26) Jose Melendez SAC and District administrators, and LULAC President Tom Tamez gather with LULAC Parent/Child Scholars to ring in the new application for the LULAC Parent/Child Scholarship's 21st anniversary year. Photo by SAC Campus Photographer, Leonard Ziegler.