2025-26 Student Support Fund Awardees

2025–26

Bridging Futures: Student Conference and Travel Initiative
Project Lead: John Glass

$120,000

This initiative creates a dedicated fund to cover student costs for academic, research, and career conferences, addressing financial barriers that currently limit equitable access. The proposed $120,000 fund would support about 80 students in its first year, expanding experiential learning, strengthening transfer readiness, and advancing equity across all divisions.

2025–26

State-of-the-Art Welding Center Equipment: Expanding Career Pathways to Living Wage Employment
Project Lead: Irene Gishwiller

$253,407

This project will equip Chaffey College’s new InTech Welding Center with state-of-the-art equipment to deliver industry-aligned training that prepares students for high-demand skilled trades careers. The center will provide economically disadvantaged students with access to certifications, advanced welding and fabrication skills, and cutting-edge technology aligned with regional employer needs. Through accelerated, no-cost training and comprehensive wraparound support, the initiative removes financial barriers and creates clear pathways to living-wage employment in the Inland Empire.

2025–26

Empowering Student Achievement Through Milestone Scholarships
Project Lead: Denise Gutierrez

$525,000

The Milestone Scholarship Program will provide one‑time awards of up to $1,000 to support Chaffey College students who are actively working toward key academic and career milestones. The program targets students with demonstrated financial need who are making satisfactory progress toward significant educational or professional goals. By easing financial strain at critical points, the scholarship helps students stay on track and advance toward completion and workforce success.

2025–26

ESL OER Level 1 & 2 Courses
Project Lead: Charmaine Phipps

$29,250

This project proposes the development of two comprehensive OER ESL courses to replace costly textbooks and address inconsistencies in existing materials. By creating coordinated, POCR‑ready, and research‑based course shells aligned with program outcomes, the initiative will ensure high‑quality, accessible instruction for ESL Levels 1 and 2. The effort advances equity and sustainability by reducing financial barriers while delivering engaging, adaptable resources that support both students and faculty long‑term.

2025–26

Dress for Success: A Personal Shopping Experience
Project Lead: Raquel Gomez

$33,600

This proposal introduces the “Dress for Success: Personal Shopping Experience” program to provide students with professional attire for interviews, internships, and job opportunities, removing a key financial barrier to career advancement. Eligible students will receive personalized support from Career Center staff to select appropriate clothing, with referrals prioritized from programs serving economically disadvantaged and marginalized populations. By pairing career readiness services with access to professional attire, the initiative strengthens equity, confidence, and students’ ability to succeed in the workforce.

2025–26

Apprentice Success Fund: Supporting Student Completion Through Stipends
Project Lead: Maria Rodriguez

$70,000

The Apprentice Success Fund will provide $1,000 annual stipends to students in Chaffey College’s pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs to help reduce financial barriers that affect persistence and completion. By supporting costs such as materials, transportation, technology, and required work equipment, the fund promotes equity and improves student success while strengthening the skilled‑workforce pipeline. Aligned with Vision 2030, the California Apprenticeship Initiative, and MacKenzie Scott funding priorities, this initiative advances equitable access to high‑wage career pathways for underserved students.

2025–26

Title V MacKenzie Scott Expansion Project
Project Lead: Andrew Long

$1,200,000

This proposal builds on Chaffey College’s successful Title V Developing Hispanic‑Serving Institutions initiative by seeking local philanthropic support to sustain and expand proven equity‑focused programs. With federal DHSI funding currently unavailable, the MacKenzie Scott Student Support Fund will ensure continued investment in services that advance access, student success, and institutional capacity. This support will directly benefit disproportionately impacted students, including Hispanic, low‑income, African American, and first‑generation learners.

2025–26

Ensuring Digital Equity & Innovation: LLC Innovation Studios
Project Lead: Adriana Arce

$98,600

This proposal expands the Digital Equity and Innovation Hub by equipping two Innovation Studios in the new Library Learning Commons to provide hands‑on, collaborative spaces for multimedia creation across all disciplines. By filling critical gaps in recording, editing, and production technology, the studios will remove financial barriers and strengthen digital fluency, innovation, and employability skills aligned with Chaffey’s ACES framework.

2025–26

Textbook Transformation Project: Cohorts 5+ Through 7
Project Lead: Emilie Koenig

$415,697

The Textbook Transformation Project (TTP) expands Zero‑Cost Textbook (ZTC) courses and pathways to advance equity, access, and student success. With MacKenzie Scott funding, TTP would develop 15 additional ZTC pathways, impacting over 75% of annual enrollments, saving students more than $8.3 million each year, and supporting thousands of students in earning ZTC degrees.