TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - It's a proud moment when a child goes to college in a family unable to send anyone to college before.
Now Pima Community College and University of Arizona will be able to help more students and families have that experience.
Between them, the two schools have an extra 1.3 million dollars in Federal grants to help make those dreams realities.
The money will go to a program called Upward Bound. Students who may be the first in their families to go to college join the program in High School. It helps them with tutoring, and counseling. Then keeps them on track for the first two years of college at UA or PCC.
Catherine Santini is proud to have a chance to go farther than anyone else in her family.
"It makes my mom...it like fills her up with joy to see that someone is finally doing something new and it won't be the same pattern as normal. So it is something she gets really excited and happy about that I won't follow her path and what she did and what the rest of the family has done.
Johanan Flores is a Senior at Desert View High School now. He says because of the program, “I really am motivated and dedicated to help my family, not only my family, but me also get where I want to in life."
Congressman Raul Grijalva says he was the first in a family to graduate college. He sees it as a good use of tax dollars to help low income student through programs like this.
"They become better wage earners, self sufficient, they pay taxes and they contribute to the economic well being of this community as a whole. They're not dependent on a thing."
He says the 1.3 Million for UA and PCC should last for five years. The Obama Administration committed the money. Grijalva worries the Trump Administration will cut money for education programs like Upward Bound.
