PACE Celebrates a Decade of High School Successes

The following is an editorial penned by SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin for The Salt Lake Tribune. It appeared in the paper on Nov. 7, 2021. 

PACE celebrates a decade of high school successes

 

By Dr. Deneece G. Huftalin

President, Salt Lake Community College 

 

Juan Perez-Vega graduated from West High School in June 2021 and is already on his way to earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, one of hundreds of first-generation students guided to college through a partnership between Salt Lake County high schools and Salt Lake Community College. 

 

The 18-year-old is now taking classes at SLCC paid for by a PACE scholarship, but his college pathway began four years earlier as a freshman in high school. Like hundreds before him, he credits PACE, the Partnership for Accessing College Education program, with helping bridge a widening divide between high school and college completion. 

 

Celebrating its tenth year, PACE concentrates on empowering and supporting underserved youth to prepare them for college. This year, the program is expanding to Kearns High School after successes at West, East, Cottonwood and Highland high schools. From its inaugural 2011 class of 7 students at West High, the program has grown to serve more than 430 PACE scholars. Currently, 375 students participate in the program across the five schools. 

 

Here’s how PACE works: 

• Freshmen at the five high schools are invited to apply. They must demonstrate a financial need or come from families where neither parent completed a bachelor’s degree. 
• Admitted PACE students and their families commit to a set of college-preparatory activities over the next four years, such as maintaining a 90% attendance record and 2.5 GPA and participating in advanced coursework.  
• Throughout high school, PACE scholars are supported by SLCC advisors from similar communities and have access to pathways and career exploration opportunities such as job shadowing, SLCC campus visits and tours of local companies. 
• Upon successful completion of the PACE program in high school, graduates are awarded a tuition scholarship to SLCC for six semesters if they meet required criteria. 

PACE scholars average a 3.4 GPA while in high school. More than 90% of participants identify as ethnically and/or racially diverse; 80% are first-generation college students and come from working-class households; and 67% are female. These numbers are encouraging as SLCC looks to expand PACE success to other Salt Lake Valley high schools, helping to lift historically underserved populations. 

 

When PACE graduates arrive at SLCC, vital support from advisors and faculty continues to ensure they earn their associate’s degrees. SLCC currently supports more than 150 PACE scholars with full tuition scholarships, 70 of whom arrived this fall and are attending college for the first time. Many in the program plan to pursue additional education after their time at SLCC while others enter careers in Utah.

 

Salt Lake Community College expands and sustains the PACE program with generous support from the State of Utah and donations from community leaders, corporations and private foundations from across the state. PACE plays an integral role in realizing SLCC’s vision to strengthen our community through the students we serve. I’m hopeful this financial support will increase as more community and business leaders realize its impact on the educational and economic vitality of our region. 

 

And what about Perez-Vega? This hardworking young man continues to pursue his associate’s degree at SLCC while working at rail-car manufacturer Stadler Rail through another SLCC partnership, the Talent Ready Apprenticeship Connection. He’s on track to get his degree and find a meaningful career as an engineer with a growing company. Hats off to his dedication and determination and to those at West High and in our PACE program who helped him along the way! Together, we can replicate his success by the thousands.