South Bay Promise Offers free first year for El Camino students
Manhattan Beach Unified Superintendent Mike Matthews signs up Mira Costa High School for South Bay Promise, which offers free, first-year tuition at El Camino College. Photo
“The roots of knowledge are bitter, but the fruits are sweet,” State Senator Ben Allen told 130 educators and elected officials at a luncheon hosted by El Camino College on May 11.
The quote is from Aristotle.
“I learned it from my father, a UCLA professor of Neoplatonism,” said Allen, whose 26th Senate District extends from Pacific Palisades on the north to Palos Verdes on the south.
To emphasize his point, Allen noted that the average college graduate earns $400,000 more over his or her lifetime than the average high school graduate.
The luncheon was an opportunity for representatives of the seven high school districts served by El Camino College, to show their support for South Bay Promise.
South Bay Promise was founded at El Camino in 2014 with 12 students. Next fall it will include 500 students. The program waives first-year tuition for its students and offers them free tutoring, counseling and other support services. To qualify, students must attend El Camino the fall following graduation. Private school and home school students who live within the El Camino district are also eligible.
At the luncheon, American Honda pledged $50,000 to the South Bay Promise Endowment Fund.
Students interested in participating in South Bay Promise should visit ElCamino.edu/StudentServices/SouthBayPromise.