Across the San Diego Community College District, those individuals have become the quiet force behind some of the program’s most inspiring student success stories.
At San Diego Mesa College, Outreach Coordinator and Promise Supervisor Jennifer Park uses her intuition and past experiences as a first-generation college student to listen for “the story under the story” when she connects with students in the program.
Park remembers navigating student support services with her immigrant mother and later finding college enrollment confusing herself, even after years working in higher education. Those experiences remind her to slow down and listen to what a student may not be saying.
At San Diego City College, Student Services Technician Rachel Rojas remembers noticing unresolved items on a student’s account when she was helping the student with an unrelated Promise question. Missing documentation had prevented the student from receiving a Pell Grant, but Rojas worked with financial aid to resolve the issue. The result: the student was able to access several thousand dollars she needed for rent.
As first-generation college graduates and City College alumni, Rojas and her colleague Saedy McCoy recognize that the assistance they provide can ripple across generations, which is illustrated by former San Diego Promise students returning to help younger siblings enroll.
For Rojas, this is reflective of her motto: “Don’t do college alone.”
One student, Elizabeth, has repeatedly turned to McCoy for assistance while navigating significant barriers and preparing to transfer.
“A quick tip that seems obvious to staff could mean generational change for a student,” McCoy said.
That impact can extend beyond a single encounter. Promise students earn certificates and degrees, transfer to four-year universities, and pursue meaningful careers, creating opportunities that can reach their families and communities.
At Mesa College, Student Services Technician Claudine Castagna knows asking for help can itself be a barrier. Her own experience as a college student with social anxiety mirrors how she supports students, sometimes walking them to another department to ensure they get the help they need.
At San Diego Miramar College, Project Analyst Breanna Hinojosa focuses on connection. Her family’s relationship with the SDCCD began when her mother took classes to learn English, while Hinojosa began her own college experience online during the pandemic.
“I strive to be that familiar face for Promise students so they are not scared to ask questions and know that they are supported through every step of their journey,” Hinojosa said.
For Miramar College Project Assistant Mikey Yanam, that support is especially personal. A recent San Diego Promise student himself, Yanam arrived at Miramar College feeling “alone and lost,” but with the support he received, he was able to earn two associate degrees and is preparing to transfer. He now greets students who arrive with the same uncertainty he once experienced.
“Going above and beyond looks like a normal day in Miramar’s Promise office,” Yanam said.
Former Miramar College Promise student Jennifer Aguilar, now a certification specialist at Ascent Funding and instructor at Canyon Hills High School, says the Promise helped mold her future.
“Take advantage of everything the San Diego Promise has to offer, from workshops and sessions to meeting with counselors and mentors,” Aguilar said. “No path is ever linear, and that’s okay. Never be afraid to ask questions or ask for help.”
The San Diego Promise pathway also reaches adult learners at San Diego College of Continuing Education, where tuition-free noncredit education can be a launching point for students transferring to City, Mesa, or Miramar colleges.
San Diego Advance Counselor Armando Carignan Palacios knows that journey well. After coming to the United States from Mexico, he found himself starting over in an unfamiliar educational system. Following College of Continuing Education, he transitioned to City College with support from the San Diego Promise and, this fall, began a doctoral program at San Diego State University.
That path shapes how Carignan Palacios supports students who, like him, are starting new chapters of their own. Rather than handing them a website or referral, he stands side-by-side with them to help with applications, financial aid, San Diego Promise requirements, and enrollment, providing what he calls a “warm handoff” to the colleges.
His message: “You are not alone, and you belong in college.”
As the San Diego Promise enters its next decade, at its heart are the people who help students take the next step and, in many cases, inspire them to do the same for others.
For Castagna at Mesa College, supporting Promise students has elevated her career experience.
“This is the best job I have ever had,” she said. “I genuinely feel good about the work I do.”