Cynthia Cordova, a Counselor and Assistant Professor at Palomar, said the scholarships will help the students stay in college for the 2021-22 academic year, transfer to four-year institutions, earn bachelor degrees, and ultimately return to their communities as mentors and leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese three students exemplify what being a Puente student is about,\u201d said Cordova, who serves as Puente Counselor and Co-Coordinator. \u201cThey\u2019re so resilient\u2014the things they have gone through in their lives, it\u2019s a lot. Then they would show up to class, get their assignments done and get really good grades. What set them apart was being willing to ask for help when they needed it.<\/p>\n
![\"chris\"](\"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/06\/Image-300x207.jpeg\")
Chris Garcia<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not surprised at all that they were selected for these scholarships,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations to Chris, Lorna and Oseas for their selection as Puente scholarships recipients\u2014and to all of the Puente students, staff and faculty for the success that this program has consistently achieved,\u201d said Interim Superintendent\/President Dr. Jack Kahn.<\/p>\n
Chris Garcia said he had such a positive experience in Puente that he has encouraged his sister and others to join the program. Garcia plans to transfer to a four-year college and major in a STEM-related field.<\/p>\n
\u201cPuente has helped me so much,\u201d he said. \u201cThe program is not just about completing academic units\u2014it\u2019s more about growing as a person. And the best part is that I\u2019ve been able to connect to my roots.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorna Martinez said many of the students in Puente are first-generation college students, like she was when she enrolled last fall.<\/p>\n
![\"headshot\"](\"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/06\/puente-valeria-241x300.jpg\")
Lorna Martinez<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cPuente has helped me understand more about our culture, and embrace it,\u201d she said. \u201cAs a first-generation student, it\u2019s really hard\u2014and even harder during the pandemic\u2014to navigate college. This has helped us adapt to college life. Having that support with the counselors, professors and mentors, being able to connect with them, was really helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martinez said she plans to transfer to UCLA or Cal State San Marcos to study nursing.<\/p>\n
said the most valuable part of his Puente experience was the additional guidance the program afforded him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a freshman going into college, you\u2019re really not sure what to do, and it\u2019s really easy to get lost\u2014especially with COVID-19 going on,\u201d said Garcia. \u201cBeing in the Puente program has helped me a lot. At Palomar, you get that sense of family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Garcia said he plans to transfer to UCLA or UCSD, major in history and go to law school.<\/p>\n
Cordova said the Puente program was started in the 1980s to increase the number of students in community college who transfer to universities. In five years at Palomar, Puente has helped dozens of students transfer to four-year institutions by providing counseling, English instruction, instruction in college and transfer success, and mentorship.<\/p>\n
![\"headshot\"](\"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2021\/06\/Oseas-225x300.jpeg\")