People’s Self-Help Housing and LoyalTeach Celebrate College Signing Day

“The College Signing Day events were a great success this year,” said Kris Reid, Director of Education, “it was a wonderful feeling to recognize student accomplishment with nearly 200 of their friends and families.”

As Reid went onto say, “With many students having overcome socio-economic and other adversities, College Signing Day builds confidence, and equips them for their new college adventures.”

Guest speakers, to include alumni of College Club, offered advice and reflections on their own academic journeys. Also in attendance were former residents of PSHH properties who hold post-graduate degrees, some now pursuing doctoral studies.

College Club and LoyalTeach provide a vibrant environment to prepare for and succeed in higher education. Through mentorship and ongoing emotional support, both programs continue their service to students beyond high school, throughout college and for those moving on to advanced degrees.

This year, College Signing Day participants accepted offers to attend: Allan Hancock, Cuesta, and Santa Barbara City Colleges; Sonoma, San Francisco, Cal Poly and Fullerton State Universities; Riverside, Irvine, and Merced UCs; Westmont and Babson Colleges; and Boston University.

Students celebrated included (by home city):

Goleta 
Meztli Lopez Torres
Gustavo Perez

Guadalupe 
Nataly Cervantes
Catalina Cruz Lopez
Jennifer Hernandez
Gladys Santiago
Jim Salcedo
Kevin Cervantes
Roland Rivera
Keven Perez
Rene Flores
Dulce Mardonado

Orcutt
Paulina Uribe
Emanuel Urrea Rodriguez
Derek Ferate-Sanchez
Esmeralda Arenas-Osorio

Santa Barbara 
Marco Anthony Vella
Monica Ransel
Luis Arellano
Ariana Lopez
Mayleen Montes De Leon
Samantha Avalos

Santa Maria 
Alondra Neri
Vanessa Nunez
Carlos Nunez
Ana Valdez
Leslie Guzman
Fatima Gomez
Mariam Bautista
Alexis Gonzalez
Zarela Moralez
Jennifer Gaytan Gonzalez
Italivi Galindo Mendez

About LoyalTeach 
LoyalTeach promotes equality of opportunity by empowering low-income students of all achievement levels to imagine and complete affordable paths toward their educational goals. With the support of individualized tutoring, college counseling, and college persistence advising, LoyalTeach has supported over 150 students of all income levels.

About College Club 
College Club prepares students bound for higher education through application assistance, financial aid navigation, career exploration, campus visits, and continuing mentorship. The program helps students enroll in college and obtain their degrees while accruing little to no student debt. Success is found in peer groups, community partnerships, and a strong network of alumni involvement.

About College Signing Day 
Launched in 2014 by First Lady Michele Obama, College Signing Day celebrates the importance of reaching past a high school education whether at a professional training program, community college or a four-year university

About People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH)
Founded in 1970, PSHH is the longest-serving nonprofit affordable housing organization on the Central Coast. With a mission of building homes and providing services to strengthen communities and change lives, PSHH serves low-income households, families, seniors, veterans, farmworkers, those living with disabilities and the formerly homeless. It also provides homeownership opportunities through a self-help, “sweat equity” program that has seen over 1,200 homes successfully completed. PSHH has a presence in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Monterey counties, manages over 2,000 rental units, and employs over 200 staff members. PSHH acknowledges the Indigenous Peoples and unceded territories that the organization now occupies, including the YTT Northern Chumash, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash, Barbeño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, Cruzeño Chumash, and Salinan elders, current and future generations as the protectors of these lands. To read the full land acknowledgement, visit pshhc.org/IDEA. For more information about the organization, visit pshhc.org, email info@pshhc.org or phone (805) 781-3088.