STOCKTON — Hundreds of Delta College students will benefit financially and academically each year under an agreement announced today by Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs and Delta College Superintendent/President Kathy Hart.

Eligible students attending Delta College will receive $500 per year from the Stockton Scholars program to help with fees or other expenses. In addition to the grants, students will also receive services they need to succeed in college, transfer to a university if they choose, and graduate from Delta within a reasonable time.

Stockton Scholars was launched in 2018 with a $20 million donation secured by Mayor Tubbs. Out of over 1,000 eligible scholarship recipients, Stockton Scholars anticipates supporting over 500 students at Delta College in 2019. Today’s formal agreement ensures many more students will benefit for years to come.

“Stockton Scholars is about setting the expectation that all of our students will pursue 4-year, 2-year, or trade school, and ensuring that they have the resources needed to be successful,” said Mayor Tubbs. “I’m excited to see how this agreement with Delta College will ensure that students receive the support needed to do their best.”

“Stockton Scholars is a wonderful program that will assist countless young people in Stockton,” said President Hart. “We hope many of them will consider coming to Delta, where we can either prepare them for transfer to a university or launch them directly into exciting new careers.”

To be eligible for the $500 grants, students will be required to attend workshops and seminars covering a range of topics like financial aid, study skills, peer mentoring, and health and wellness.

Students will also be required to attend a Delta College orientation and to meet with their counselor at least once per semester.

The agreement comes at a time when the financial struggle of many California community college students has come into sharper focus. Earlier this year, a statewide survey found that more than half of community college students cannot afford to eat balanced meals or worry about being able to afford food. Roughly one in five are homeless or do not have a stable place to live.

Combined with other financial aid opportunities, the Stockton Scholars grants will help address these needs for Delta students.

Stockton Scholars grants are currently available only to Stockton Unified graduates. Awards for fall 2019 have already been announced; high school students graduating next year will be invited to apply in the spring of 2020. For more details visit stocktonscholars.org.

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