There’s a certain segment of California’s young people at risk of missing out on a great chance to prosper, and here on the North Coast, they’re all around us. I’m talking about rural high school students.
The trend has been apparent for some time, and was highlighted in a recent special report from EdSource. The group, an education reporting and advocacy group, pointed out that even as enrollment in four-year universities has surged in California, students from the state’s rural areas are being left out. One striking data point: In 2018-19, fully 48% of urban high school students had completed the classes needed to apply to the state’s public universities (so-called “a-g requirements”), while just 28% of rural students had done so. Recent data from the county level shows 35% of Humboldt County students had completed the college prep classes.
It’s a multi-pronged and difficult challenge. But if we don’t rise to it, then too many rural California students like those in our high schools right now could miss out on the benefits of a four-year college degree — like expanded life opportunities, earning an average of $1 million more over a lifetime, higher retirement income, living longer and healthier lives, and more.
Like you, I want the very best for our children.
Throughout my career in higher education, I’ve seen how meaningful a college education can be. I’ve been fortunate to see students seize on new knowledge and experiences. As a university president, this has driven my commitment to expand scholarships, which open doors for many students who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance.
That’s why I was so grateful to Dan and Cindy Phillips for creating the Phillips Fortuna Scholarship last fall. It provides up to $4,000 over four years to recent Fortuna High graduates who enroll as freshmen at Humboldt State University, or the same amount over two years if those graduates first go to College of the Redwoods.
Dan and Cindy also inspired the creation of a similar scholarship for all recent North Coast graduates. The HSU Foundation bundled donations from hundreds of donors, creating the Humboldt First Scholarship of up to $4,000 over four years for recent local graduates who enroll at HSU as freshmen. If these local students choose to live on campus, they can also take advantage of a new $1,000 annual housing scholarship.
Many other donors have recently stepped up to help as well. They include individuals who have created annual scholarships and endowed scholarships that will support students in perpetuity. Among them were Scott Heller and Robin Meiggs, who generously gave $250,000 to endow a scholarship for rowing athletes.
Our students here on the North Coast — and throughout rural California — deserve the best opportunities we can provide. College is a big one, and we should do everything we can to make it possible.
Tips for getting ready for college are at GettingToCollege.humboldt.edu. To learn more about supporting scholarships at HSU, please visit giving.humboldt.edu.
Tom Jackson is the president of Humboldt State University.
