A private donation of $20,000 to the Cuesta College Foundation is advancing the Cuesta Promise Scholarship to now include a second year fee-free to all recently graduated high school students of Coast Unified School District (CUSD).

Beginning fall of 2016, the Cambria Promise Scholarship will allow the 21 CUSD 2015-16 Promise Scholarship recipients a fee-free 2016-17 academic year at Cuesta College; all recently graduated CUSD seniors can receive a fee-free first year at Cuesta via the Cuesta Promise and a fee-free second year via the Cambria Promise.

"With the success of the Cuesta Promise Scholarship program, we have been working on a way to fund a second year of fee-free education at Cuesta College; the Cambria Promise launches this effort,” said Cuesta College Superintendent/President Dr. Gil Stork. "This gift to the graduates of Coast Union High School and Leffingwell High School is phenomenal. We are very grateful to the donor for caring so much about the educational needs of our local students." 

The anonymous donation is a one-time gift to the Cuesta College Foundation. The funds will sustain the Cambria Promise for approximately two years; fundraising efforts are underway to establish a permanent fee-free second year.

"This is a great example of a community building on the Cuesta Promise so that its students can continue their education and we look forward to fundraising within the community and offering the Cambria Promise into perpetuity," said Cambria resident and former San Luis Obispo County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Julian Crocker.

This year, a total of 50 students graduated from the two high schools within CUSD (Coast Union High School and Leffingwell Continuation High School). Approximately 29 plan to attend Cuesta College this fall.

"Coast Unified School District has a 'graduate profile' which guides our work every day in preparing our students for success in college and career preparation," said Coast Unified School District Superintendent of Schools Vicki Schumacher. "There are specific goals that we develop in our students as part of the 'graduate profile,' which include academic success, career readiness, critical thinking, civic engagement and more. The Cambria Promise will allow our graduates the opportunity to fully realize their potential for college and career success. All of us within the District are simply thrilled to accept this wonderful donation from a member of our own community who saw the benefit of investing in our students."

The deadline to apply for both the Cuesta Promise Scholarship and the Cambria Promise Scholarship for the 2016-17 academic year is August 1. Visit the Cuesta Promise page for more information on how to apply.

CUSD students who received the Cuesta Promise for academic year 2015-16 will automatically have their fees waived after registering for fall 2016 courses. General registration for the fall semester opens June 10; the semester begins August 15. Visit the registration page on information on how to register.