PCC Foundation Announces 2022 Scholarship Program to Benefit PUSD Students

The Pasadena City College Foundation on Monday announced the formation of a new scholarship program for Pasadena Unified School District students.

The Ann Peppers Scholarship Program will provide PUSD students with enhanced financial, academic, mentoring, and career-related services in order to increase the students’ retention, persistence and degree/certificate completion at PCC.
In addition, it will prepare students for a career after graduation from PCC and for a four-year college.

Sixteen PUSD students in the first year will obtain direct student aid. In addition, the students will receive personalized and integrated wrap-around services through a team of PCC professionals who will guide them through the complexities and confusion of the college.

Students will also receive assistance in the financial aid application process, enrollment, orientation, counseling, career selection and preparation, opportunities for internships, and the practical aspects of job readiness.

“PCC is such an amazing community college,” said Jennifer DeVoll, a member of the Ann Peppers Foundation Board of Directors and executive director of the Pasadena Community Foundation.

“I feel good knowing that we will encourage and support PUSD students in getting access to resources that will propel them to great careers. Navigating the resources is hard. It requires extra care, and that is what we want to provide,” said DeVoll.

Applications for PUSD students enrolling at PCC in September 2022 will be accepted beginning Nov. 1. There will be scheduled open houses, information sessions and financial aid workshops for students and parents in the fall.

According to district data, more than 1,885 PUSD students have enrolled at PCC between 2015 and 2020. The program will serve an estimated 50 PUSD students per year once the program is running at capacity, providing tuition, books, and additional academic, career, and other support resources.

As a result, it is hoped participating students will have higher persistence and graduation rates and lower drop-out rates than non-participants given the services.

“I’m very excited to partner with Pasadena City College given its proactive approach towards Pasadena students,” said Mary Machado Schammel, a board member of The Ann Peppers Foundation and co-founder and CEO of the M&A Advisory firm.

“I value the holistic approach the Foundation is taking with academic, career, and personal needs,” she said.