College Visions

First-Gen Week Was a Success!

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in First-Gen Week! From The FLY Initiative for teaching our students about building wealth to the local National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and United Cultural Council (UCC) Chapters for introducing our students to greek life to local community-based organizations and colleges and universities for showing up and showing out at the First-Gen Fest! The week of celebration was truly a success with all of your support.

To our amazing students, we hope you not only enjoyed the week’s festivities, but felt celebrated in your first-generation identity.

#CelebrateFirstGen #ThankYou

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse at College Visions

College Visions was proud to host Senator Sheldon Whitehouse as he highlighted the upcoming Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver deadline (Oct 31). Thank you Senator for being an advocate for access and affordability! And, thank you to the speakers who shared their personal PSLF stories! 
 
Established in 2007, the PSLF program provides a path to loan forgiveness for people working in public sector and non-profit jobs in fields such as education, healthcare, and social work. After making 120 payments, PSLF participants can have the balance of their student loans forgiven.
 
For low-income, first-generation college graduates like CV’s alums, the PSLF program provides an important option. CV alum Jennifer Recinos (Brandeis University Class of 2013) spoke at the event and shared that participation in PSLF has allowed her to pursue a career where she can give back as Associate Director of First Generation Experience at Rhode Island School of Design.

For more information about the event and to find out to get help with PSLF applications, click here: Press Release

College Visions Celebrates #PellTurns50

College Visions was honored to participate in the 50th Anniversary celebration of the passage of Pell Grant legislation at the Pell Center of Salve Regina University. CV staff joined U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Representative David Cicilline (RI-01), President Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, and other guests to reflect on the power of Pell and advocate for federal action to double the Pell grant to ensure that college is accessible to low-income students.

CV College Success Program Advisor and CV alum, Jennifer Santos spoke at the celebration, stating “The Pell Grant provided me with financial stability for the years I was in college. I knew I could rely on it. During challenging times, the Pell Grant allowed me to finish my undergraduate degree and graduate with manageable debt. Thanks to that, I could take my current job at College Visions and give back to other first-gen students.”

Pell Grants provide a path for students to build upon their talents and earn degrees that benefit them and our shared communities. A cumulative 97% of CV students have received Pell Grants. They now work as educators, nurses, designers, financial analysts, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. At CV, the essential support provided by Pell in addition to CV services such as personalized advising and emergency financial support means that 68% of CV students earn degrees within 6 years compared to a rate of 43% for their peers.

Read more about the Pell Ceremony here!

College Visions Names Executive Director

Providence, RI—Lamont Gordon has been named the next Executive Director of College Visions, effective August 15, 2022. The announcement follows a six-month national search by executive search firm Eos Transition Partners.

Deborah Obalil, Chair, College Visions Board of Directors states, “I am delighted to announce that Lamont Gordon is the new Executive Director of College Visions. Lamont brings a depth of knowledge and experience in the fields of college access and success, a strategic vision for the future of College Visions, and a strong connection to the work. As we approach the 20th anniversary of the founding of College Visions, we are excited to have Lamont lead the next phase of College Visions’ development. As first-generation, low-income students continue to navigate challenges associated with COVID, the services provided by College Visions have never been more needed.”

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