School receives grant as preparations begin for the spring Senate celebrates accomplishment; wants more pupils to enroll

BY OLIVIA ESPINOZA Reporter

Following Interim President

Ara Aguiar’s announcement of the Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievment (MESA) program grant and potential seed grant, new student opportunities on campus for the last stretch of the fall semester were discussed during the Academic Senate meeting on Monday.

“We received a grant for a total of approximately $1.5 million to implement a MESA program here,” Aguiar said. “So that's another big accomplishment for us.”

The MESA program provides students who are seeking degrees in

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) academic help.

Aguiar announced another grant still in the process of being received.

“Pierce has received or will receive a $90,000 seed grant to inform foster youth in the twelfth grade, in terms and providing them workshops on how they can transition to Pierce,” Aguiar said.

Following the grant announcements, upcoming opportunities for students were discussed.

Vice President of Student Services, Jason Cifra announced during the meeting that Pierce is looking to incentivize current students to be proactive in applying early for their spring classes with a raffle. “So we are going to be drawing ccastellanos.roundupnews@gmail.com [For the

10 names from all of the students to register early up to Dec. 13, and will be announcing 10 students to win either a $500 gift card or a laptop on Instagram Live Dec. 14,” Cifra said.

The drawing is also intended to bring focus to current students to sign up for classes, since new students are less likely to apply during the spring semester.