Students receive extra help with grant

MOSES LAKE — About $400,000 in grant money is available to help offset costs for students attending Big Bend Community College.

The college was one of just 10 colleges in the state chosen for the Opportunity Grant, a renewable state-funded program. About 41 students at Big Bend are receiving aid through the grant. The money covers expenses ranging from transportation and tuition to daycare and books.

Eligible students must be first-generation college students, low-income, enrolled in one of four career pathways and in need of tutoring and support. Career pathways are allied healthcare, early childhood education, office information technology and welding.

Director of WorkFirst and Job Skills Training Jackie Johnston said the grant even helps students when their car breaks down. The grant is designed to cover the gap between the cost of attending school and the amount of money traditional financial aid provides, Johnston said. The average unmet needs for recipients is $7,253.

"The reality is, you don't know what's around the corner," she said.

Students are now being offered an opportunity to become computer owners paid for by the grant. They must submit an application explaining how the computer is going to help them with their career and educational goals.

WorkFirst and Opportunity Grant Coordinator Andre Guzman mentors students throughout the program, meeting with them at least once per month. Next quarter he is meeting with students more frequently.

"What I try to do as a mentor is keep them afloat," Guzman said.

Student Juana Rivera, 33, commutes from Ephrata to Moses Lake every day for classes while working on her prerequisites for the nursing program. Worrying about the cost of college can be stressful, Rivera said. She was tempted to drop out of college until she received the grant.

"It's a big relief that we can have," she said.

Rivera has two children and knows child care assistance is available if she needs it, although she has been able to coordinate her schedule so far with her children's school schedules.

Rivera said Guzman is an encouraging voice in her education.

"If you're struggling, he's right there to help you," she said.

Johnston noted many college entities came together to make the program possible. The college foundation made T-shirts for all the scholars acknowledging their status as a grant recipient. The scholars signed one of the shirts and plan to return it to the foundation.