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Anne Darling Elementary School kindergartners receive a congratulatory handshake from Steve Kinsella, president-superintendent of Gavilan College; the SilVHER certificate from Martha J. Kanter, chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District; and a T-shirt reading "Future College Student/Universitario del Futura" from Stan Arterberry, chancellor of the West Valley-Mission Community College District.
Silicon Valley Higher Education Roundtable (SilVHER), the consortium of higher education institutions in the region, this week unveiled its "SilVHER Certificate" pilot program designed to increase college access for historically underrepresented students.
Presidents and chancellors, attired in regalia, presented the SilVHER certificate to kindergarteners at ceremonies at Gault Elementary School in Santa Cruz on June 13 and Anne Darling Elementary School in San Jose on June 14.
The certificate guarantees admission to a SilVHER member institution provided the students meet admission requirements. To help students achieve, SilVHER will provide support for children and their parents throughout the students' elementary, middle and high school years.
"SilVHER is offering each and every one of the kindergarten children here today the opportunity to obtain the best possible education our institutions can offer," said Don W. Kassing, president of San Jose State University and chair of SilVHER, during the ceremony at Anne Darling. "Today, we are building a partnership with the principal, teachers and families at Anne Darling school to support these very young people." David Lopez, president of National Hispanic University, delivered remarks in Spanish at the Anne Darling ceremony.
Other SilVHER members participating in the Anne Darling event included Stan Arterberry, chancellor, West Valley-Mission Community College District; Frank Chong, president, Mission College; Phil Hartley, president, West Valley College; Kevin Browne, executive director of admissions and university registrar, UC Santa Cruz (representing Denice Denton, chancellor); Steve Kinsella, president-superintendent, Gavilan College; Martha J. Kanter, chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District; Brian Murphy, president, De Anza College; and Rose Myers, vice president of student development and instruction, Foothill College (representing Bernadine Chuck Fong, president). Linda Herschbach is principal of Anne Darling.
SilVHER participants in the kindergarten ceremony at Gault Elementary School included Arterberry, Hartley, Francisco Hernandez, vice chancellor of student affairs, UC Santa Cruz and Brian King, president, Cabrillo College. Mary Anne James serves as principal of Gault.
The organization in May kicked off the SilVHER Certificate program with information sessions at both Gault and Anne Darling elementary schools featuring bilingual presentations, question-and-answer sessions and materials for parents, in addition to hands-on activities for students to explore possible careers in dental hygiene, nursing, horticulture, construction management and music, among other areas. SilVHER member organizations provided expert speakers and other professionals for the events as well as community college students currently attending the career programs.
"SilVHER is committed to supporting these children to help make the college dream a reality for them," said Kanter, who serves as the Roundtable's vice chair.
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