With pillow in hand, Cesar Saucedo of Westminster prepares to leave on a bus with other low-income students from Orange County for a tour of Northern California colleges. (Karen Tapia-Anderson / LAT)
Mariel Pantoja, 16, of Buena Park cozies up to her sister Genesis, 7, before getting on the bus. (Karen Tapia-Anderson / LAT)
Buena Park students Pablo Palominos, 17, foreground, Arturo Monje, 17, and Francisco Guerrero talk before embarking on the tour. (Irfan Khan / LAT)
Christian Velador, right, sits with some of the other participants in the tour, sponsored by the Orange County Community Housing Corporation. (Irfan Khan / LAT)
Students on the tour will learn what college is like and how to apply. For many, it will be their first trip outside Southern California. (Irfan Khan / LAT)
Luis Pantoja and daughter Genesis watch as Pantoja’s 16-year-old daughter, Mariel, heads north on the bus. (Karen Tapia-Anderson / LAT)
From left, Gabriela and Juan Velador and Brenda Martinez wave goodbye. (Karen Tapia-Anderson / LAT)
