By Angela Askey, Executive Director Public Relations and Marketing
Pinal County, Az. – April is Celebrate the Promise month and April 1, 2021, is the date when all Pinal County 8th grade students are eligible to complete the Promise for the Future Pledge.
Promise for the Future is an educational initiative made possible through a partnership between Central Arizona College, the Central Arizona College Foundation, and Pinal County Middle and High Schools to encourage students who reside in Pinal County to remain in high school and graduate.
To meet high school requirements as a part of the Promise for the Future pledge, students must graduate with a minimum of a 2.75 grade point average and participate in 20 hours of community service.
Between April 1 and August 1, 2021, students and their parents are encouraged to visit www.centralaz.edu/promise to complete the Promise Pledge Form by selecting the Enroll in Promise button.
CAC staff will hold Promise for the Future presentations virtually/online this spring to assist students and their families with Promise.
Jenni Cardenas, Vice President of Student Services stated, “We recognize Monica Vogan for 21 years of service to Central Arizona College and the Central Arizona College Foundation as the Promise Coordinator. During her time, she has been instrumental in helping thousands of students complete their Promise, enroll at CAC and achieve their educational goals.” She added, “With Monica’s retirement, we welcome Benny DeSantiago, Coordinator of Community Outreach, who will now provide leadership for the Promise for the Future Program. Families should watch for communication from Benny this month.”
Upon graduation from a Pinal County high school, students who successfully meet Promise for the Future requirements will be eligible to earn a tuition-free education at CAC. Promise students are eligible for Promise tuition funds, as needed, for four consecutive semesters (excluding summer semesters) provided they begin taking classes the fall semester after high school graduation, complete the FAFSA form, are enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester and complete 9 credit hours, declare an eligible degree or certificate program, and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Promise funding can be applied toward any tuition need not met by other funding resources. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine if they are eligible for federal funding assistance. They may also be receiving other scholarships or grants from other entities. CAC Financial Aid personnel review all of this information to determine how much tuition aid a student will receive from other sources. Promise funding is awarded after all other financial aid has been applied to the student account (excluding student loans).
Graduating high school seniors who submitted their Promise Pledge in their 8th grade year are invited to visit the CAC webpage at www.centralaz.edu/finaid. Under the headings Scholarship information, Promise for the Future tab, students will see guidelines and be able to directly access the form for the Promise for the Future scholarship program as well as apply for other CAC scholarships.
Students are to complete and submit the online CAC Scholarship Application. The form will ask Promise questions, and ask students to write an essay regarding their educational goals. Combining the CAC Scholarship application with the Promise for the Future provides Promise students the opportunity to be considered for other CAC scholarships.
In addition to the form, students are asked to submit their high school transcript into their CAC student portal. The high school transcript allows Financial Aid staff to verify and determine eligibility to the Promise scholarship program.
Once the CAC Financial Aid Office determines eligibility, students will receive an email containing the Promise Scholarship acceptance letter and enrollment requirements.
Sherrie Licon, Executive Director of Enrollment Services, explains “Pinal County is poised for growth in the 21st century, and that growth will be driven by an educated workforce. The CAC Foundation recognizes the importance of ensuring all Pinal County students have access to higher education opportunities that will prepare them to work in business and industry in the Pinal County of the future. Promise for the Future and the CAC Foundation play an integral role in the upskilling of the Pinal County workforce pool and serve as attractive incentives for corporate relocation to our dynamic and business-friendly county.”
For additional information about Promise for the Future please visit www.centralaz.edu/promise, call 520.494.5111 or email promise@centralaz.edu.
If you are interested in supporting the Promise, contributions can be made at www.centralaz.edu/give.
For more than 50 years, Central Arizona College has been serving and educating the diverse communities of Pinal County. With five campuses and two centers located strategically throughout the county, CAC provides accessible, educational, economic, cultural, and personal growth opportunities for those of all ages.
