Cerritos College News Releases -- February 2008

Photo of Shon Bowles, Project HOPE staff and students, and the Board of Trustees with the grant check NORWALK, CA – February 22, 2008 – Cerritos College announced today that its Project H.O.P.E. (Health Opportunities and Pipeline to Education) program has received a $20,000 grant from Aetna.

A grant check presentation was held during the Cerritos College board meeting on February 6, 2008. Shon Bowles, Senior Account Executive of Aetna Insurance, Graciela Vasquez, Director of Project H.O.P.E., students and parents attended the ceremony.

“Aetna is pleased to be able to support the Project H.O.P.E. students, who will help to ensure continuing access to health care services in their communities,” said Bowles, who presented the check to Cerritos College Board President Bob Arthur. “Working with local organizations such as Cerritos College, Aetna is proud to help improve the health of the people in the communities we live and work in.”

Aetna’s $20,000 donation was matched one-to-one through a unique opportunity provided by the college’s Title V federal grant. This has created a total donation of $40,000 which will be endowed in perpetuity for Project H.O.P.E. pre-health professional students.

Funding is allocated for a named “Aetna Scholarship” that will be awarded to Project H.O.P.E. students who have completed their health certificate program and/or are transferring to a 4-year university.

“We are fortunate to have partners such as Aetna that demonstrate true commitment to diversity,” said Vasquez, “and who support Latino and the underrepresented students interested in pursuing a health career.”

Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.7 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. www.aetna.com

Project HOPE is dedicated to increasing the number of Latinos and other underrepresented groups entering, matriculating, and completing health careers. The project aims to create an academic pipeline facilitating the success of minority students in this competitive field. Program activities include: student services geared toward health careers; teaching strategies and courses that increase retention and success of Latino students and other minorities; organized workshops, conferences and research opportunities; community service venues; and peer and professional mentoring. For more information about Project Hope, visit www.cerritos.edu/hope.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 200 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently nears 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

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Cerritos College

Releases 2008