LATTC Hosts Cash for College Convention Kickoff
Trade Tech played host to a press conference kicking off the Fifth Annual Cash for College: College & Career Convention to be held October 26 and 27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. After being introduced by LATTC President, Dr. Roland "Chip" Chapdelaine, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, "A college education allows you to reach your potential. By being diligent about applying for financial aid, college can become a reality for every person in Los Angeles.”

Joining the mayor at the lectern were L.A. Area Chamber President & CEO Gary Toebben, L.A. Unified School District Board President Mariene Canter, new LAUSD Superintendent David Brewer III, L.A. City Councilmember Jan Perry, representing the 9th council district, where LATTC is located, and student scholarship winner Jessica Alvarado. All the speakers highlighted the importance of a college degree and how to access financial aid for college.

Admission to the convention is free. This year's convention will be held in the South Hall of the Convention Center, located at 1201 S. Figueroa Street, a short Metro Blue Line ride from LATTC to the Pico stop where they can walk to the event. The convention will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days and from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday. For more information visit the L.A. Cash for College website or call (213) 482-9847 for more details.

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce joined community leaders, students and parents gathered at LA. Trade Tech College to kick off the fifth year of the Cash for College program. Mayor Antonio R. Viaraigosa, LA. Area Chamber President & CEO Gary Toebben, LA. Unified School District Board President Mariene Canter, new LAUSD Superintendent David Brewer III, LA. City Councilmember Jan Perry and student scholarship winner Jessica Alvarado all highlighted the importance of a college degree and how to access financial aid for college.

The Cash for College: College and Career Convention, one of the biggest events of its kind in the nation, is a free event held Thursday, Oct. 26,8:30 a.m. -1 p.m. and 6 - 9 p.m. and Friday, Oct 27,8:30 a.m. -1 p.m. in the South Hall of the LA. Convention Center. Free bus transportation is available to the event on Thursday evening from over 45 community organization sites.

The event shows LA families how to access the billions of financial aid available for college. In California alone, over $1 billion is available just in Cal Grants each year, helping nearly 300,000 students access a college degree. Plus, more than $200,000 in Cash for College scholarships, more than ever before, will be awarded to 120 Convention attendees.

"In order for Los Angeles to be competitive in today's global economy, our workforce needs to be educated, and capable of learning high-level, specialized skills," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "A college education allows you to reach your potential. By being diligent about applying for financial aid, college can become a reality for every person in Los Angeles .”

"Business leaders know that skilled employees are the engines powering today's successful companies, ” said Toebben. "We need to be sure LA.'s future workforce is equipped with the skills they need for tomorrow's quality jobs, and critical to that is post-secondary education and a community college or four-year college degree."

Nearly 40 percent of California youth don't believe the costs of college pays off, according to a new study by the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute. But in reality, the difference can mean $1 million dollars. On average, a college graduate today earns a million dollars more over a lifetime than someone with only a high school diploma, and there are now 13 times more jobs being created that require college experience than those that require only a high school education. If the state's low college-going rate in continues, California will experience the biggest income drop of any state in the nation over the next 20 years, according to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

Studies show that many families overestimate the cost of college and do not know about the financial aid resources available to them. With the average public school college counselor to student ratio being approximately 800-to-1, these families are also lacking the resources needed to prepare their children for college. Many families who qualify for state funded monetary grants, such as Cal Grant awards, are not accessing them due to lack of awareness and the difficulty of application forms.

"As a student who credits the Cal Grant program with providing me with the financial support my family and I needed for me to attend college, I can tell you firsthand how beneficial these programs are," said Diana Fuentes-Michel, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission, which administers the state Cal Grant program. I have come full circle, and I think if s critical to spread the word about funding that is available to our families to help them send their kids to college."

Produced by the LA. Area Chamber of Commerce, Cash for College is a partnership of leaders from business, education, labor and community-based organizations and government, working to expand access to education for LA families. The convention is made possible by the support of the LA Area Chamber, LA Workforce Investment Board, LA Community College District, City of LA., LA Unified School District and 45 partnering community organizations.

Convention sponsors include The Education Financing Foundation of California; California Student Aid Commission; EdFund; Wells Fargo; American Express; Chela Education Financing; USAFunds; State Farm Insurance; and ALL Student Loan Corporation.

For more information about Cash for College, visit their website or call 213.482.9847.