(PHOENIX, Ariz., May 4, 2004) - On Saturday, May 8, a total of 41 high school seniors will be among the first class to graduate from the Phoenix College Achieving a College Education (ACE) Program. The college will hold the First Annual ACE Student Convocation at 6 p.m. in the Culinary Cafe on the College’s Osborn Campus.

The program, which debuted in Summer 2002 at Phoenix College, consisted of 50 students from five area high schools including Carl Hayden High School, Camelback High School, Central High School, North High School and Metro Tech High School. Forty-one members of the class will graduate and move on to attend either a community college or university.

Lucia Rodriguez is one of those students. She is an active senior at Carl Hayden High School where she participates in the National Honor Society, Student Government, School Newspaper and other clubs. Additionally, she has excelled in her academics and will graduate 10th in her class of 450.

"The ACE Program has helped me tremendously," she said. "I can go to any college or university as a sophomore because I have 26 credits already…thanks to the program. It has given me a glimpse of what college is really about and because of the program, I am ready and confident that I’ll be fine. I can honestly say that the ACE Program has successfully prepared me for college, and I’m ready to begin a new chapter in my life."

Like Lucia, other Phoenix College ACE students have achieved two important milestones: they are graduating high school and they have accumulated between 18 and 24 college credit hours at Phoenix College. Additionally, these graduates and their parents, were required to attend six Saturday workshop sessions that focus primarily on financial literacy.

Phoenix College ACE is significantly impacting the state’s high school dropout rate by increasing the number of students who graduate and go on to achieve a college education. Without the support from a number of people on and off campus, this program would not be the success it is today.

On Saturday, May 15 the ACE Program will sponsor the Shooting for ACE: Golf Tournament Fundraiser at Villa de Paz Golf Course. All proceeds from the event will support scholarships for ACE alumni to attend Phoenix College.

If you would like to contribute to the Phoenix College ACE Program there are still golf tournament sponsorship opportunities available. For more information, please call Frank Luna at (602) 285-7667.

###