Helping Students Achieve Their College Dream

More than 170 high school students and their families attended Affording Your College Dream, a community event that explores the best ways low-income students can fund a college education. The annual event, hosted by Westmont in partnership with several county education initiatives, including Resilience, Education, Adventure, Community and Health (REACH), Program for Effective Access to College (PEAC), Mission Scholars, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara Unified School District.

Denise Alvarado, executive director of elementary education for SBUSD, served as keynote speaker, sharing her story as a Mexican immigrant and English learner.

“The event was intentionally bilingual, ensuring that all families could fully engage in the experience and feel welcomed by Westmont’s hospitality,” says Araceli Espinoza, Westmont assistant director of admissions, guest and community relations. “It was an inspiring gathering that brought together community leadership with a shared vision to provide opportunities for the next generation of leaders.”

Twenty students received their Westmont admission letters during the event, which included lunch and a campus tour.

Westmont has become an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution with more than 23% of students identifying as Latino or Hispanic. The designation is a result of local partnerships, improved outreach efforts and the addition of several key college employees.