In hopes of keeping its program at Cerritos Title V Project HOPE Director Graciela Vasquez asked the Board of Trustees to look into a grant last Wednesday during the meeting.

Project HOPE is dedicated to increasing the number of Latinos and other underrepresented groups entering, matriculating, and completing health careers. The project aims to create an academic pipeline facilitating the success of minority students in this competitive field.

Vasquez says that students involved have benefited from the program.

“Currently, Project HOPE has had students who have gone on to careers in the health care field.”

Board member Carmen Avalos agreed.

“There is value with this program,” she said, “but I think what is important is that there should be someone who will be in charge.”

The program provides the following:

? Preparing students for careers in the health care field? Workshops, volunteer opportunities? Student mentoring

Project HOPE could possibly be shut down if it doesn’t have the Title V grant; the funding for the program ends in September.

Title V is a state-administered formula grants program designed to improve the quality of education for all students.

Funding may be used for the following purposes: to support local education reform efforts; to provide funding to enable to implement promising education reform programs and school improvement programs that rely on scientifically based research.

Also, to provide a continuing source of innovation and education improvement, including support programs that provide library services and instructional and media materials; to meet the education needs of all students, including at-risk youths; and to develop and implement education programs to improve school, student, and teacher performance, including professional development activities and class-size reduction programs.

The request for the funds is in the amount of $94,176 for the period between October 2007 to June 2008.

Although the program is on a tight rope to keep itself alive, Manuel Candelario, Project HOPE coordinator said afterward that there is the reason why the program is important to not only him but to those students who are in it.

“There is an extension of family,” he commented, “and this program is not limit to just a community, it is pursuing careers.”

However, there was a question by Board member Bob Epple of whether not or Project HOPE will provide a future guarantee to students.

For Board member Bob Hughlett it was whether there was other component and whether no funds will be of any cost.

Avalos, agreed, and said, “I will request that there be a report to see how other program at Cerritos are funding either by general funds or otherwise.”

Board member Ted Edmiston had a different perspective.

“I see it as a struggle to continue,” he said, “because of it (the program) being small.”

But a report will be presented to see what can be done to keep the program and whether there is a general fund to keep it.

The bottom line for Candelario is that the program is important because of the support that students received from the faculty and staff.

As this year’s Project HOPE’s graduate ceremony, that will take place on Saturday, Canderario says the program is the starting point for a career.