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.
