Dear Moreno Valley Residents:
As a Moreno Valley educator and the Mayor, I understand the importance of higher education and providing our children with opportunities and the resources needed to excel. For this reason, I support the Middle College High School program. This program gives selected students the opportunity to earn a college degree at the time of their graduation. As a Middle College alumni myself, I can attest to the academic advancement and career readiness the program provides to students.
High School students can get a head start on their college degrees with the Middle College High School Program (MCHS) at Moreno Valley College (MVC), made possible through a special partnership with Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) and Val Verde Unified School District (VVUSD). Students enrolling in this program complete their junior and senior years (grades 11 and 12) of high school by taking a combination of high school and college courses that count toward their graduation requirements and an Associate’s Degree simultaneously.
Recently, I was honored to receive and proudly accepted an invitation to share my experience with Middle College Program students. There were over 80 students ,both juniors and seniors, at this fun and interactive session. I explained to the group how the program changed my life. This opportunity came to me at a time when I was struggling academically. The Middle College Program introduced me to a new environment that focused on each student’s individual academic needs. I was able to excel academically, and I was fortunate to be in the second cohort of Middle College graduates. I received both an Associate’s Degree in Arts and an Associate’s Degree in Science at the time of my high school graduation.
When asked what advice I could give students attending the Middle College High School Program, I encouraged them to get involved in their community and to seek out a role model or mentor. When I was in the program, I got involved by joining student government. During my first year of the program, I was elected as Student Senator, which prompted Moreno Valley College to establish policies allowing high school students in the program to serve in college student government. My second year, as a high school senior I was elected student body Vice President and had the opportunity to develop leadership and public speaking skills.
As Mayor, I have also championed a partnership with Moreno Valley College that provides more opportunities for Moreno Valley residents to attend college free of charge for their first year. The partnership provides funds to the Moreno Valley College Promise initiative and assists students with tuition, textbooks, fees, and instructional material not paid for by financial aid. I will continue my dedication and commitment to making higher education a possibility for Moreno Valley residents. Visit www.moval.org to learn about the many educational resources our City has to offer or www.mvc.edu/promise for more information about the College Promise Initiative.