College season has rolled around for Paso Robles High School seniors as they get ready to apply for their future. They are deciding if they want to attend a four-year university, go directly into the workforce or trade school, or if they have another option. One of these options after high school includes the Cuesta Promise that began ten years ago in the fall of October.
What is the Cuesta Promise? The Cuesta Promise is a scholarship program that gives high school graduates the opportunity to attend Cuesta College two years free because of financial aid. Having been founded since 1965, Cuesta College is celebrating the anniversary of the Cuesta Promise program.
10 years ago in the fall of October, Cuesta College announced the start of the Cuesta Promise; a scholarship program giving high school graduates the opportunity to attend Cuesta College for two years free. The Cuesta Promise is available to all individuals in San Luis Obispo county who’ve earned their high school diploma, were homeschooled, or received their GED. The community college’s program benefits students with no college debt, or helps students transferring to a four year after Cuesta have reduced debt. Undocumented students also qualify for the Cuesta Promise, which can also help advance their education beyond high school.
Jessica Shatwell, the College and Career counselor for Paso Robles High School informed on her close partnership with Cuesta, as well as helps students who plan to apply for the Cuesta Promise.
“I work with students filling out their application and completing the promise steps. So we’ll go into their government and econ class, and we’ll walk everybody through them, regardless of where they’ve applied just so they have another plan if Cuesta isn’t their option and they know what to do.”
Sadie Pedrin, the dual enrollment counselor at Paso Robles High assists students with enrolling in enrichment, and dual enrolled courses at Cuesta. Speaking about the Cuesta Promise, she said, “I would echo that it’s a really great thing or
students in our community to have that option to go to Cuesta for two years to do the general education and the hopes either get a certificate, or to move on to a four year university. I think its helped with a lot of barriers for students and families after they leave high school.”
In response to the 10 Year anniversary, Shatwell voiced her reaction,“I know that it was established and it was promised to the kindergarteners a long time ago, that even our kindergarteners, once they graduate in our county, they’ll be given the promise. My reaction to that is that’s a phenomenal opportunity. And there’s a lot of ways that that’s a really good thing.”
Pedrin followed with,“ I do have to say that I think Aaron Borgeson, who’s in charge of admissions and records, has done a really, really great job the last few years connecting our students better once they leave high school and go to Cuesta and the events leading up to graduation and actually going to attend Cuesta.”
