Staff Report
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has donated $15,000 to The Hancock Promise program at Hancock College for 2018, bringing the company’s total contribution to $41,200 since 2017.
The Hancock Promise allows local high school graduates to receive their first year at Hancock free of tuition and fees. “Promise” students save more than $1,200 in tuition and fees, receive priority registration and establish an academic plan for success with personalized counseling.
Eric Daniels, PG&E Government Relations representative, presented the check at the college board of trustees meeting on Aug. 14.
The inaugural class of Promise students arrives on campus this month when the fall semester begins. The number of first-time students, or those who graduated from high school this spring, registered for fall 2018 classes has increased by 61 percent compared to fall 2017. The number jumped from 850 first-time students in fall 2017 to 1,366 in 2018.
The number of enrolled students from each of the nine largest feeder high schools in the district rose by at least 37 percent in 2018. Five of the schools saw an increase of at least 73 percent.
The number of Santa Ynez High School students climbed by 129 percent — from 21 students to 48. Pioneer Valley High School experienced an 85 percent jump from 194 students to 338. Other high schools that experienced significant increases included Cabrillo High School (73 percent; 194 to 338 students) and Righetti High School (85 percent; 136 to 251 students).
Since launching a five-year, $10 million endowment campaign for The Hancock Promise in December 2017, the Hancock College Foundation has raised more than $3.4 million. For more information, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/promise.
