SPC, Helios Education Foundation, Work To Create Pathways To Success For Area’s Black Males

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Helios Education Foundation has partnered with St. Petersburg College through an $85,000 grant that will fund endeavors to strategize and plan pathways for Pinellas County African American males to achieve lasting success through higher education.

The Helios-SPC Titan Achievement Program (H-TAP) will create a holistic and comprehensive program with existing partners, including Pinellas County Schools, the Pinellas Education Foundation, the University of South Florida (USF), Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and the University of Central Florida (UCF).

The program will target recruitment and engagement of African American male students, as well as postsecondary enrollment and retention at SPC. This initiative will include summer programming, career and academic support, tutoring, and social engagement opportunities aimed at helping these students transition to a four-year program at SPC or a partner institution – with ample support to attain graduation and career placement milestones.

“Thank you Helios Education Foundation for this generous and vital gift aimed at overcoming the achievement gap,” said SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams. “This partnership offers much-needed opportunities for African American male students that will inspire, motivate and support them so they can fulfill their dreams of education, economic stability and a successful future.”

SPC will research and identify resources for the program in January. The college will then move ahead with plans to fully integrate and launch the initiative in Summer 2021.

“Helios Education Foundation is excited to partner with St. Petersburg College to close the postsecondary attainment gap and address barriers experienced by African American students”, said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “Ensuring all students are not only inspired, but also aspire to unleash their potential seeds this partnership and fuels our commitment to student success.”

Helios Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for students in Arizona and Florida to experience success in postsecondary education. By addressing education gaps and advancing the academic preparedness of all students, particularly first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students, Helios seeks to shape the type of impact that changes lives and strengthens communities.

“Helios Education Foundation’s gift makes a huge difference to the students, faculty, and staff at SPC,” said Jesse Turtle, SPC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the SPC Foundation. “Our students go on to build better lives for themselves, their families and our community, so an investment in SPC is an investment in all of our futures.”

This press release was produced by the St Petersburg College News. The views expressed are the author's own.