About 45 western Iowa high school students will attend college on full scholarships this fall as part of a new pilot program.
The Iowa West Foundation introduced the “Pottawattamie Promise” Thursday. Pottawattamie Promise students come from the Council Bluffs Community and Riverside School Districts. Students were nominated for the program and had to meet certain criteria, including financial need, and a GPA at or above 2.0, to be eligible.
Iowa West is partnering with the Knights of Aksarben and Kiewit Foundations on the $5.3 million program. Iowa West Foundation president and CEO Pete Tulipana says the program addresses readiness and support for some students who might not otherwise be able to attend college.
“Census data shows us that approximately 400 students in Pottawattamie County lack access to postsecondary education due to a variety of barriers that may put college out of reach to them and their families.”
The program includes tuition, housing, and support services for students. Dan Kinney, president of Iowa Western Community College, says Pottawattamie Promise will contribute to the regional economy and workforce.
“We hope that all of these students will not only graduate with a work credential, but will remain in this area as most of our graduates to at Iowa Western. 72 percent of the students who attend Iowa Western stay here, and live here, and work in this region.”
An estimated 62 percent of jobs in Iowa will require college education or training by 2018.
The goal is to have 100 students enrolled in IWCC through the Pottawattamie Promise program in 2017, and 400 by 2020.