Project HOPE, led by director Maggie Cordero and program assistant Danylle Williams Manser, is a program at Cerritos College dedicated to help students during their college experience.
This program provides support for students who complete healthcare-related or science-related certificates and/or degrees.
The HOPE in Project HOPE stands for Health Opportunities and Pipeline to Education.
Packed with a supporting system to help students by providing academic support, leadership skill-building activities and scholarships among many others. Project HOPE aims to help students transition from high school to college and college to university.
“Project HOPE is open to any student that wants to go into any health-related occupation.” said Williams Manser.
There are two kinds of scholarships that Project HOPE offers. One is for students who are close to transferring but have another year at Cerritos College. Those students are eligible for scholarships awards of up to $1,000 per year.
The other scholarship it offers is for those students in the program who are transferring to a four-year university. Those students are eligible to apply for scholarship awards of up to $5,000 per year.
To help with the scholarships Project HOPE will hold a fundraiser all throughout the semester. Its next fundraiser will be Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) located at 310 Los Cerritos Mall, Cerritos, Calif.
William Manser explains that among the other services Project HOPE provides is counseling for its students with designated counselors involve with the program.
“Project HOPE students can make one hour or 30 minute appointments with the designated Project HOPE counselor throughout the year. The designated counselor reserves three hours a week for Project HOPE students”
Project HOPE is under the SEM Division who is overseen by Dr. Carolyn Chambers.
“The project began through a Title 5 grant received in 2002. The grant ended in 2007 and since then was institutionalized by the college.”
Also Project HOPE provides community service opportunities with organizations like Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Red Cross.
Those students who are interested in signing up can do so by downloading the application online at www.cerritos.edu/hope, or they can pick up an application from the Project HOPE office located at the main office of the Business Education Building.
“Project HOPE accepts applications year-round.”
