SANTA ANA : Minorities Program Gets $40,000 Grant

The fact that Juan Orneles is a college freshman with a B-plus average is something that surprises even him.

Orneles, 18, was an average student at Saddleback High School and never planned on going to college. Neither of his parents attended high school, and higher education wasn’t something that was stressed in his family.

But during his senior year, Orneles was chosen to participate in Higher Ground, a Rancho Santiago College program for low-income minority students who need extra help and motivation to make it to college.

“A majority of the students in the program are the first member of their family to graduate from high school, let alone attempt to go to college,” said Irene Malmgren, program coordinator. “There’s really nothing innate in their system that prepares them for college.”

Rancho Santiago was recently awarded a $40,000 grant from Brandeis University in Massachusetts to fund the Higher Ground program for the second year. It is one of eight colleges and universities nationwide to offer the program.

Higher Ground uses faculty and student mentors to work on a one-on-one basis with participants to provide academic guidance and moral support.

“It’s the kid who with some extra support is going to be successful,” Malmgren said. “They need to be given a vision that they can do it. . . .”

Students are placed in the same classes during their first year. They also can register early, attend an extensive summer orientation before the start of fall classes and are provided with on-campus jobs.

“What gets in the way of many of these students being successful is life crisis,” Malmgren said. “Families without a history of higher education don’t always understand what priorities have to be maintained. We often provide the support that it takes for the student to maintain a continued effort towards education.”

Orneles said he now plans on transferring to Cal State Fullerton, where he will study to be a junior high or high school teacher. He said his career plans have also had an impact on his two younger siblings who say they now want to go to college.

“When you know other people who go to college, it makes you want to go too,” he said. “I wish there were more programs like this around because it really had an impact on me.

“Before, I had a really negative attitude towards college. Now, I think it’s a better idea to go to college so you can really learn what life can be about.”