Gavilan Community College :
Changing Lives One Degree at a Time
by Crystal Han . Photos by Gavilan College
When we surround ourselves with people who believe in our potential , it gives us the confidence to achieve great things . This is precisely the type of environment Dr . Pedro Avila , president and superintendent of Gavilan Community College , his administration , faculty , staff , and Board of Trustees are tirelessly striving to foster for the college and the community as a whole .
Most colleges want to support and inspire their students , but for Avila it ’ s personal . “ When you look at who ’ s enrolled in community colleges , the majority are low income students , or middle income students who are working or are housing insecure ,” he explained . Having immigrated from Mexico to Castroville when he was nine , struggling with low income and homelessness , and eventually working his way out of poverty through education , Avila sees a lot of himself in Gavilan ’ s students and he wants to ensure they get the very best . “ For me , it ’ s a very special commitment to these communities that I relate to and I ’ m really excited to be here ,” he said .
With inflation , rising costs of living , and the lingering effects of the pandemic , today ’ s students need a helping hand now more than ever . One of the ways Gavilan is giving students a fighting chance is through their Gav 4 Free program , which provides free tuition for Summer and Fall of 2023 and Winter and Spring of 2024 . If you ’ re wondering what the catch is , Avila assures that there isn ’ t one . Anyone can apply for the Gav 4 Free program , regardless of income .
Gav 4 Free creates several opportunities students normally wouldn ’ t receive . Many students fresh out of high school still aren ’ t sure what they want to do or what direction they want for their lives , but tuition costs limit their ability to take a variety of classes to see what they enjoy . Removing tuition worries gives them the freedom they need to discover themselves . “ We want to provide students
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