THE RISE
FIRST
CLASS
Chancellor ’ s Associates Scholarship hits milestone .
BY ERIKA JOHNSON ’ 11
IN 1975 , a year of classes at a University of California campus cost $ 630 . By 1985 , it was $ 1,300 . For today ’ s incoming undergraduate students , a year of coursework costs more than $ 14,000 for California residents — financial realities that may overshadow the joy of receiving a hard-earned acceptance letter .
Preston Hale ’ 17 received such a letter two years ago . For several years prior he ’ d been doing anything to get by — painting houses , moving furniture , trimming trees , but he wanted more from his life .
“ Receiving that acceptance was one of the best moments of my life … but it also scared me because I had no idea how I was going to pay for it ,” says Hale .
Approximately 60 percent of UC San Diego undergraduates receive financial assistance in the form of loans , grants , work-study and scholarships . And while tuition has increased , funding from the state of California has dwindled , from nearly 18 percent in 1995 to just seven percent today .
As a means to address the growing obstacle that finances can be to a college education , in 2013 Chancellor Pradeep K . Khosla initiated the Chancellor ’ s Associates Scholars Program , which provides a full scholarship to local lowincome and first-generation students who dream of attaining a higher education .
“ When I received the notice from the Chancellor ’ s Associates Scholarship Program in the mail , I cried because I knew I was going ,” says Hale . “ All of that hard work , all of that sacrifice paid off .” In June , the first class of scholars , along with Hale , turned their tassels at Commencement ceremonies .
“ We are making a commitment to this community and to our country to make higher education accessible ,” says Chancellor Khosla . “ We continue to expand the program so more highachieving , qualified students from underserved communities can attend UC San Diego free of financial worry and debt .”
8 TRITON | FALL 2017