Education
SARA BOQUIN Changing the World , One Student At A Time
E
ight years ago , Barrio Logan College Institute embarked on an ambitious expansion to help hundreds of additional families realize the dream of a college education for their children . To help lead that growth , BLCI hired its first Chief Operating Officer , Sara Boquin . Since then , BLCI has grown from serving 240 first-generation college students to over 750 students in Chula Vista , El Cajon and Barrio Logan . BLCI is now proud to call Sara its Chief Executive Officer .
Sara ’ s story embodies BLCI ’ s mission and her favorite quote by Nelson Mandela : “ Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world .” She spent part of her childhood in Honduras , where she learned the culture , language and hardships of living in an impoverished country . Like many families served by BLCI , Sara ’ s parents migrated to California seeking a better future and a better education for their daughters . Both Sara and her sister earned Bachelor ’ s degrees in the University of California system . Sara also earned a Master ’ s degree in Latin American Studies . Her path was not easy - she struggled with the college
BLCI CEO Sara Boquin application process , affording tuition , room and board , and understanding financial aid – all things that BLCI provides to the families it serves all the way through college graduation . “ Many first-generation college students can succeed in college ,” Sara shared with GB Magazine . “ Whether they earn a degree depends on the support around them , which is difficult to find when no one in your family has been to college .”
With over 20 years of experience working with first-generation students enrolled at San Diego State University and the University of San Diego , Sara admires BLCI ’ s special connection to BLCI ’ s parents . “ BLCI parents fully support education in their families , but they often need their children to work full-time and help care for their younger siblings ,” said Sara . “ At BLCI , we help parents balance the needs of today with building a better tomorrow through their children ’ s college education .”
Sara is committed to improving the lives of families through education . BLCI is proud that she leads a team working every day to ensure that a family ’ s zip code does not determine their access to higher education .
20 GBSAN . COM | AUGUST 2021
BLCI Graduation 2021