Community college wipes graduating students debt as graduation gift
and last updated 2021-05-24 19:51:14-04
Alexander Walker-Griffin is finishing his last days at Contra Costa College, a community college in Northern California. Only one thing was standing in his way: student debt.
Then he got an email.
âTo be quite honest with you, I was a little confused and a little bit concerned. I was like, is this a scam?â said Walker-Griffin.
It wasnât a scam, and he wasnât the only student who got the email. More than 60 students received an email from the collegeâs foundation saying their debt had been cleared.
This lifted a huge financial burden on the 85% of its students that are low- and middle-income.
Biden campaigned on student-debt forgiveness for all borrowers but has not acted on that yet.
While graduating from college is a significant achievement, many people 45 million people, that is are held back by student debt except for this spring s Contra Costa Community College graduates.
The Contra Costa College Foundation announced on Monday that as a surprise graduation gift for May graduates, it had paid off all their remaining student debt through its Finish Line Fund. Denver7 News reported that more than 60 students at the Northern California community college received an email from the foundation saying all of their remaining student debt had been cleared, making a huge impact for those graduates, given that 85% of students that attend CCC are low- and middle-income.
By Kathy Chouteau
When Contra Costa College’s class of 2021 marked their virtual graduation celebration Fri., May 21, they weren’t the only stars sparkling that night. The 729 classmates were joined by friends, family and celebrities and politicians alike including actors LeVar Burton (Star Trek) and Billy Dee Williams (“Lando” in Star Wars), actor/musician Paulina Rubio, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla all of whom submitted videos with greetings and support during a virtual celebration preceding the commencement ceremony.
Later, during the virtual commencement ceremony, Interim President Damon A. Bell, Academic Senate President Dr. Katherine Krolikowski and Classified Senate President Brandy Gibson addressed the graduates. Also on hand were students Brandon Douangsawang and Ricardo Sanchez, the Associated Student Union president, at an event filmed at the college’s Knox Performing Arts Center.