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Ortiz to support students

Britt Ortiz began working at the University Aug. 28 to implement a program provided by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation. As Director of the First Generation Student Success Program, he helps freshman and their families adjust to being the first person from their family to attend college. Ortiz came from Cal State Northridge where he worked as a coordinator of student outreach. Freshman Amanda Holmes, discusses with Ortiz how she could benefit from the program.
Britt Ortiz began working at the University Aug. 28 to implement a program provided by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation. As Director of the First Generation Student Success Program, he helps freshman and their families adjust to being the first person from their family to attend college. Ortiz came from Cal State Northridge where he worked as a coordinator of student outreach. Freshman Amanda Holmes, discusses with Ortiz how she could benefit from the program. / photo by Heather Morales

by Summer Herndon
Staff Writer

In order to support and assist first generation college students, a grant proposed by the James Irvine foundation was awarded this past spring and Britt Ortiz was hired as the coordinator of the new program.

Dr. Len Hightower, assistant to President Stephen Morgan, developed the grant proposal because first generation students make up 30 percent of the ULV population

The First Generation Student Success Program Support Grant is for all incoming freshman who come from families where both parents do not have a college degree and who are in “high need” financially.

Ortiz has had experience in minority engineering and worked with student outreach and recruitment services.

He helps target first generation freshman students to go to school at the University of La Verne and also help support families’ financial needs through the grant.

Ortiz said the grant is used to identify and service needs to help with success.

About 50 grants of $1,000 each will be distributed this fall. The grant money can be used for purchasing books, meal cards, and room and board costs. The money cannot be used to cover tuition.

Freshman Jennifer Parsons, a recipient of the grant, has found the extra money to be useful to pay for her books.

Summer Herndon, Photography Editor
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