Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) hosted more than 560 South Santa Barbara County high school seniors for the first SBCC Promise Registration Rally, April 19. The event provided the visiting students the resources needed to enroll at SBCC for the fall semester as SBCC Promise students.

Wearing a new SBCC sweatshirt, a Promise student looks over registration papers to enroll in City College. (Courtesy photo)
A registration rally brought in high school students from Santa Barbara and Carpinteria to enroll at SBCC through the Promise Program. (Courtesy photo)

The seniors were bused in from Dos Pueblos, Santa Barbara, San Marcos, Carpinteria, Bishop Diego, La Cuesta and Alta Vista high schools. 

“We were delighted to welcome new students to our campus,” said Superintendent/President Erika Endrijonas. “Bringing new students to campus, showing them their classes, and having them meet faculty and staff is an important step in creating a sense of belonging and community.

“We are committed to making SBCC a place where all students are welcome and can thrive.”

“We are grateful to Santa Barbara City College for this partnership,” said Hilda Maldonado, Santa Barbara Unified School District superintendent.

“We share a united vision of preparing students in our community to be the next generation of engineers, artists, entrepreneurs and more,” she said. “Field trips like this help seniors prepare and get excited for life after graduation, and we look forward to seeing the great things the Class of 2024 will do.”

Students were welcomed by SBCC staff and divided into groups that aligned with their academic interests/majors. They worked with staff members to enroll for fall classes, and received free SBCC T-shirts, resources and free lunch from Jersey Mike’s.

Once enrolled, students were bused back to their respective campuses. Overall, this effort enrolled over 560 students for the Fall 2024 semester. 

“Year round, SBCC Enrollment and Retention Services is at local high schools working with students to see SBCC as an opportunity for them,” said Vanessa Pelton, director of SBCC Enrollment Services and Retention. “We are taking it to the next level by bringing students to our campus and making in-person connections with them.

“We are grateful for the turnout this year and looking forward to doing this for years to come.”

The SBCC Promise was started by the SBCC Foundation in fall of 2016. Since then, it has provided some 7,000 students the chance to attend SBCC full-time and free of charge for up to two years. Local high school students from Gaviota to Carpinteria are eligible for the SBCC Promise.

“The SBCC Promise has made a difference in the lives of thousands of local Santa Barbara students and their families,” said Rachel Johnson, SBCC Foundation chief program officer.

“One of the most comprehensive Promise initiatives in the country, this program is entirely funded through the generosity of donors from our community who help make our students’ academic dreams a reality,” she said.

SBCC Promise relies entirely on private donations. Learn more about the SBCC Promise and how to donate.