Submitted by South Puget Sound Community College Foundation
Not every young person has the resources or guidance needed to reach their long-term educational goals. Luckily, the South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) Foundation is partnering with local youth-serving organizations to close gaps and remove those barriers through the Community Bridge program. The collaborative program provides a platform for community partners working together to help make higher education more accessible.
Creating a Seamless Path to SPSCC
Community Bridge provides 100% tuition coverage for one year to students referred by participating community organizations. The program also connects them with SPSCC’s Outreach team for personalized support. This partnership offers students a smoother transition to college, ensuring they are equipped to succeed.
“Community Bridge is more than just a tuition-assistance program—it’s a pathway to opportunity,” says Christine Hoffmann, SPSCC Foundation’s Director of Development. “The program strengthens our commitment to fostering equity and building lasting relationships with community organizations, while empowering youth to pursue their educational goals with confidence.”
Partnerships Make Community Bridge Successful
Thanks to Community Bridge partnerships, students who are selected for the Community Bridge program begin their journey with the personalized guidance and support they receive from the youth-serving organization they are already affiliated with. When they transition to taking courses at SPSCC, they already have a support system in place. From there, SPSCC’s Outreach team will help them navigate programs and services as needed to help them continue to thrive and ensure their success.
This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington, Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County, GRuB, and Together! each selected one participant to receive full tuition funding for the 2024-25 academic year. The four students enrolled in Fall of 2024 and are learning to navigate their way through college life with confidence.
Big Brothers Big Sisters alum Cailyn shared: “Without the Community Bridge program, I would have taken a gap year before considering college. I am so glad I decided to spend this year pursuing my education at SPSCC instead. I am really enjoying my time at SPSCC. I am taking General Studies courses right now and I am thinking about majoring in psychology at The Evergreen State College. I have been amazed at how many cool opportunities there are at SPSCC to explore so many different things, including job opportunities.”
Community Bridge helps SPSCC build stronger relationships with students and the community organizations that serve them. Because students start their academic journey with each partner organization’s support, they have the advantage of working with mentors who can provide guidance tailored to their specific needs.
Program Director Wade Uyeda of GRuB shared: “Our relationship with SPSCC has flourished in recent years, in large part due to the dedicated staff of their Foundation. When we were asked if we would like to partner and offer a Community Bridge Scholarship to a youth we had in our programs, it was an exciting opportunity that was easy to coordinate.”
One GRuB alum, Emma, used the scholarship to pursue her passion for food by enrolling in SPSCC’s Baking and Pastry Arts program. She said, “I have been truly honored to have received such a great scholarship from the SPSCC Foundation to attend the Baking and Pastry Arts program. Navigating college life comes with its adjustments, but it’s an opportunity I could never take for granted with such amazing faculty to support me. I also get to challenge myself through the curriculum, to deepen my love and knowledge for food through this program. It really has been such a gift. Thank you to the SPSCC Foundation, and to my alma mater at GRuB for changing the trajectory of my life!”
Community Support Keeps the Program Alive
Community Bridge is made possible thanks to the generous donations of community members. With the cost of one year’s tuition at SPSCC being around $4,600, financial support is critical to sustaining and expanding the program’s reach.
Donors can make direct contributions to the SPSCC Foundation, and for those looking to make an even greater impact, sponsoring the Community Bridge program is a meaningful way to ensure more students have access to a fully funded year of college.
To make an online donation, visit the SPSCC Foundation’s Give Now webpage or contact the SPSCC Foundation office at Foundation@spscc.edu or call 360-596-5430 to learn how you can become a sponsor. Every contribution helps build a stronger, more connected community.
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