[ Background Music ]

>> Many of us take for granted

that our children will have
a chance to attend college

but for many kids in the
San Bernardino Region,

the expensive college
is one obstacle

that stands in their way.

Valley-Bound Commitment
removes that financial barrier

by providing a free first year

at San Bernardino
Valley College.

[ Music ]

[ Background Music ]

>> He really didn't talk
about attending college

until this program
was introduced.

>> In high school, I
wasn't a good student.

Went to parties and you
know did what kids do

and at the end I started getting
serious like become an adult.

I need to straighten my life.

When you turn 18, it's
time that you need

to start being independent,
you need to take care

of your responsibilities
in life.

>> I just thought wow, you know,
he sounds pretty motivated now

after hearing about
this program.

>> Obviously, friends growing up
didn't think I was gonna make it

and proved everybody wrong.

[ Laughter ]

>> I came to San
Bernardino Valley College

as a new president and
three things struck me

when I moved to this area.

One is the dire straits that the
community was in economically.

And the second thing is the
high high-school dropout rate

in the area and to
go along with that,

also that very low
college going rate and so,

how do you impact that.

How do you change
that kind of cycle?

We opened it up and thought
about everything that we knew

that made students successful.

We provided support services.

Students have to go
to college full time

because we know students that go

to school part time
are less successful.

>> The Valley-Bound Commitment
program covers all enrollment

fees and textbooks for
a participating student

and their first full year at
San Bernardino Valley College.

By taking away economic
barriers to education,

the student can focus
on their studies

and build a platform
for future success.

>> Research tells us that
if you can get students

through their first
year of college,

they're much more
likely to be successful.

Our students, so
far, that have been

through our Valley-Bound
program are twice as likely

to finish their first year
than our resident population.

Most of our students that went

through our Valley-Bound
Commitment program have come

back the next year
to continue college.

In that way, we are
helping those students stay

in college once they get here.

>> When they first
hear the Valley Bound,

they think oh well,
what is this, you know?

Okay, it's part of
Valley College but as soon

as you start speaking
to the students

about what Valley
Bound has to offer

and that it's not gonna
cost them anything to apply

and you know, try to
be part of this program

and if they get accepted
what they'll get

out of it, they light up.

They're excited.

>> Everybody is really
supportive because our teachers

and administrators, they
also understand the value

of an education and they want
the best for our students

and so they're really
encouraging

that students should apply
to Valley Bound and they help

with the application process
that the students need to go

through and make sure
that anybody who wants

to apply has the
help that they need.

>> My dad once he, you know,
started getting the idea

that I was actually trying to
get into college and was waiting

for Valley Bound to see
if they have accepted me.

He would tell me
you're not gonna go,

we don't have the money.

>> It was actually my mom.

She got pregnant when she
was 17 and she thought

that was gonna be
me, getting pregnant

and dropping out of class.

But instead of making
me feel down,

I made it out to a motivation to
where like I'm not gonna be her,

I'm not gonna do the
same mistake as she did.

I wanna go to-- I'm
gonna finish high school,

I'm going to college and I
will do whatever it takes

to be where I wanna be.

>> Studies show that students

of San Bernardino Valley
College make significant social

and economic contributions to
the region after graduation.

>> Well, I think the best
thing about this program is

that the students are being
able to fulfill their dreams.

Yes, the students are given a
free education their first year

but they're also being
able to reach their goals,

and some of these
students have goals

that require a college
education.

>> We, as people say,
are the future so if you

and if people invest in us we
will help support the future,

make it brighter.

My point of view was
always I always wanted

to do something better for
myself, not only for myself but,

you know, for my community.

I am someone who can
say I was simpleton

and I did become
somewhat successful,

and that's who I wanna
show to other people.

>> After my AA I'm gonna become
the next president of course.

[ Laughter ]

>> No, basically, the same
thing like Jessie [phonetic]

and Jane [phonetic] but I
also wanna do some coaching,

[inaudible] school sports or
at a YMCAC and help get some

of the kids off the street, some
of these kids that get bullied

by older kids or the ones
that are doing the bullying,

got all their anger and
aggression play football,

basketball, box, wrestle,
something productive.

>> The Valley-Bound
Commitment is all

about providing the access to
students within the community

to come and be successful,
earning the A degree,

give back to the community
and they're very appreciative

of everything that we
provided for these students.

The students will come
back and they say thank you

so much, you made my day.

>> The program is funded

by the San Bernardino Valley
College Foundation entirely

through support from individual
and community donations

as well as grant funding.

>> I wanna thank the San
Manuel Band of Mission Indians

for their generous contribution
to San Bernardino Valley College

and the Valley-Bound Commitment.

Without their contribution,
these students would not be

in college and these
students would not be able

to reach their goals.

[ Chanting ]

>> Everybody in here is pursuing
their life-changing goals

through this program.

Through this program
we're able to move forward

and to really work
with the community

so that the community knows that
these types of programs succeed.

>> People are more interested
in helping and being generous

and so that has been just the
wonderful part to the story.

That people have
embraced this idea

and have really supported us.

>> The Valley-Bound Commitment
program fills a vital need

in San Bernardino for
an educated workforce.

A more educated community
reduces the causes

of unemployment and other
social services while making our

community safer and healthier.

>> Being in the Valley-Bound
Commitment program,

it has made it way easier
because they pay for everything

and all they ask for you is
to give back to the community

and just have good
grades and have a 2.0

so it was really good for me.

>> I would not be going
to another community

because this was the
community that saw me growing,

this was the community that when
I needed help they give it to me

and I plan to get my
bachelor's degree, my doctorate,

I plan to do all of that.

I want to be somebody
else, a role mode.

>> Community is very important
to Valley-Bound Commitment

because the community helps
us get to where we need to.

If it wasn't for the
community of San Bernardino,

I probably wouldn't be here, I
don't know what I would be doing

and I feel a sense of obligation
to give back to my community.

>> The Valley-Bound Commitment
program is changing lives

and strengthening our
community one family at a time.

By tearing down the obstacles to
get to college we are building

up the next generation of
leaders for future success.

>> Whether it's restoring
a park or just helping

with some students fill out
applications to other colleges

that they wanted to go
through or their financial aid

or help them you know start
planning for their future,

I love helping the community
and I think it's something

that everybody should do.

>> [Simultaneously] Thank
you Valley-Bound Commitment.

[ Cheers and Applause ]

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