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>> Many of us take for granted
that our children will have a chance to attend college
but for many kids in the San Bernardino Region,
the expensive college is one obstacle
that stands in their way.
Valley-Bound Commitment removes that financial barrier
by providing a free first year
at San Bernardino Valley College.
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>> He really didn't talk about attending college
until this program was introduced.
>> In high school, I wasn't a good student.
Went to parties and you know did what kids do
and at the end I started getting serious like become an adult.
I need to straighten my life.
When you turn 18, it's time that you need
to start being independent, you need to take care
of your responsibilities in life.
>> I just thought wow, you know, he sounds pretty motivated now
after hearing about this program.
>> Obviously, friends growing up didn't think I was gonna make it
and proved everybody wrong.
[ Laughter ]
>> I came to San Bernardino Valley College
as a new president and three things struck me
when I moved to this area.
One is the dire straits that the community was in economically.
And the second thing is the high high-school dropout rate
in the area and to go along with that,
also that very low college going rate and so,
how do you impact that.
How do you change that kind of cycle?
We opened it up and thought about everything that we knew
that made students successful.
We provided support services.
Students have to go to college full time
because we know students that go
to school part time are less successful.
>> The Valley-Bound Commitment program covers all enrollment
fees and textbooks for a participating student
and their first full year at San Bernardino Valley College.
By taking away economic barriers to education,
the student can focus on their studies
and build a platform for future success.
>> Research tells us that if you can get students
through their first year of college,
they're much more likely to be successful.
Our students, so far, that have been
through our Valley-Bound program are twice as likely
to finish their first year than our resident population.
Most of our students that went
through our Valley-Bound Commitment program have come
back the next year to continue college.
In that way, we are helping those students stay
in college once they get here.
>> When they first hear the Valley Bound,
they think oh well, what is this, you know?
Okay, it's part of Valley College but as soon
as you start speaking to the students
about what Valley Bound has to offer
and that it's not gonna cost them anything to apply
and you know, try to be part of this program
and if they get accepted what they'll get
out of it, they light up.
They're excited.
>> Everybody is really supportive because our teachers
and administrators, they also understand the value
of an education and they want the best for our students
and so they're really encouraging
that students should apply to Valley Bound and they help
with the application process that the students need to go
through and make sure that anybody who wants
to apply has the help that they need.
>> My dad once he, you know, started getting the idea
that I was actually trying to get into college and was waiting
for Valley Bound to see if they have accepted me.
He would tell me you're not gonna go,
we don't have the money.
>> It was actually my mom.
She got pregnant when she was 17 and she thought
that was gonna be me, getting pregnant
and dropping out of class.
But instead of making me feel down,
I made it out to a motivation to where like I'm not gonna be her,
I'm not gonna do the same mistake as she did.
I wanna go to-- I'm gonna finish high school,
I'm going to college and I will do whatever it takes
to be where I wanna be.
>> Studies show that students
of San Bernardino Valley College make significant social
and economic contributions to the region after graduation.
>> Well, I think the best thing about this program is
that the students are being able to fulfill their dreams.
Yes, the students are given a free education their first year
but they're also being able to reach their goals,
and some of these students have goals
that require a college education.
>> We, as people say, are the future so if you
and if people invest in us we will help support the future,
make it brighter.
My point of view was always I always wanted
to do something better for myself, not only for myself but,
you know, for my community.
I am someone who can say I was simpleton
and I did become somewhat successful,
and that's who I wanna show to other people.
>> After my AA I'm gonna become the next president of course.
[ Laughter ]
>> No, basically, the same thing like Jessie [phonetic]
and Jane [phonetic] but I also wanna do some coaching,
[inaudible] school sports or at a YMCAC and help get some
of the kids off the street, some of these kids that get bullied
by older kids or the ones that are doing the bullying,
got all their anger and aggression play football,
basketball, box, wrestle, something productive.
>> The Valley-Bound Commitment is all
about providing the access to students within the community
to come and be successful, earning the A degree,
give back to the community and they're very appreciative
of everything that we provided for these students.
The students will come back and they say thank you
so much, you made my day.
>> The program is funded
by the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation entirely
through support from individual and community donations
as well as grant funding.
>> I wanna thank the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
for their generous contribution to San Bernardino Valley College
and the Valley-Bound Commitment.
Without their contribution, these students would not be
in college and these students would not be able
to reach their goals.
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>> Everybody in here is pursuing their life-changing goals
through this program.
Through this program we're able to move forward
and to really work with the community
so that the community knows that these types of programs succeed.
>> People are more interested in helping and being generous
and so that has been just the wonderful part to the story.
That people have embraced this idea
and have really supported us.
>> The Valley-Bound Commitment program fills a vital need
in San Bernardino for an educated workforce.
A more educated community reduces the causes
of unemployment and other social services while making our
community safer and healthier.
>> Being in the Valley-Bound Commitment program,
it has made it way easier because they pay for everything
and all they ask for you is to give back to the community
and just have good grades and have a 2.0
so it was really good for me.
>> I would not be going to another community
because this was the community that saw me growing,
this was the community that when I needed help they give it to me
and I plan to get my bachelor's degree, my doctorate,
I plan to do all of that.
I want to be somebody else, a role mode.
>> Community is very important to Valley-Bound Commitment
because the community helps us get to where we need to.
If it wasn't for the community of San Bernardino,
I probably wouldn't be here, I don't know what I would be doing
and I feel a sense of obligation to give back to my community.
>> The Valley-Bound Commitment program is changing lives
and strengthening our community one family at a time.
By tearing down the obstacles to get to college we are building
up the next generation of leaders for future success.
>> Whether it's restoring a park or just helping
with some students fill out applications to other colleges
that they wanted to go through or their financial aid
or help them you know start planning for their future,
I love helping the community and I think it's something
that everybody should do.
>> [Simultaneously] Thank you Valley-Bound Commitment.
[ Cheers and Applause ]
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