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Central Washington University and Educational School District 105 are working alongside six school districts in the Yakima Valley to implement a new initiative aimed at increasing college enrollment in underserved communities.
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) launched the pilot program this summer after receiving a $150,000 grant from the Lumina Foundation as part of its Great Admissions Redesign Grant Program.
The nationwide challenge seeks to revolutionize the admissions process and increase accessibility to higher education for all students, particularly those not admitted proportionally to their shares of the U.S. population. The Lumina Foundation contributed more than $3.1 million to education organizations in seven states to help school districts reimagine how they could improve college access for their students.
The focus of the WSAC initiative will be to prepare a proactive admissions process that integrates financial aid eligibility for the following school districts in Central Washington: Yakima, West Valley, Sunnyside, Grandview, Granger, Mabton, and ESD 105.
“Lack of access and affordability are the most significant challenges facing prospective college students in our state,” CWU President Jim Wohlpart said. “What we are hoping to do with this new program is provide higher education access to more people by eliminating any potential roadblocks. CWU looks forward to working closely with our school district partners in the Yakima Valley to create a better future for each of these communities.”
ESD 105 Superintendent Shane Backlund echoed President Wohlpart’s sentiment, saying that if we can make higher education more accessible — especially for those in underserved populations — the stronger our communities will eventually become.
“Our top priority as an agency is to remove barriers so that all learners can achieve their fullest potential,” Backlund said. “By addressing concerns around affordability and admissions, we aim to empower students and families to make informed decisions about their post-high school education. Offering guaranteed admissions and financial assistance to students in our districts facing the greatest challenges will help us achieve this goal.”
Yakima School District Superintendent Trevor Greene said he appreciates the forward-looking nature of the WSAC initiative, noting that the Lumina Foundation grant is only the beginning of a long-term effort to provide better opportunities and more choices for people from all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.
“We are excited to participate in this project and help shape solutions informed by and for our community,” Greene said. “By understanding the barriers students face, we can better tailor our messaging and outreach to ensure all students have access to the educational opportunities they deserve.”
Twenty-five miles down Interstate 82, in the small town of Granger, Superintendent Brian Hart sees boundless potential for the students in his district, many of whom aren’t aware of the opportunities they have to go to college. Programs like the Great Admissions Redesign provide a fresh outlook for prospective college students.
“This project will create more opportunities for our students to pursue higher education,” Hart said. “The Granger School District values the partnership with Central Washington University and the Washington Student Achievement Council, as it will help our students take important steps toward their future. We appreciate the support in making college more accessible for our students.”
Recent CWU graduate Miguel Gomez believes the program will be well-received and well-utilized by students across the Yakima Valley.
The first-generation college graduate from Moxee explained that many of his peers would have taken advantage of opportunities like guaranteed admissions and guaranteed financial aid if they had been offered to him when he was in high school.
“I know so many people like that,” said Gomez, who graduated from CWU this spring with degrees in marketing and accounting and a minor in entrepreneurship. “If they would have had those opportunities, they would have definitely taken advantage. Knowing that they could afford to go to college would have probably changed their whole perspective. But it was too big of a risk for them at the time, and they ended up going to trade school or doing something else.”
Gomez described his experience at CWU as being “life-changing,” and he wants other people from the Yakima Valley to discover for themselves how much a college education can benefit them.
“Central wants to make it easier for people to go to college because they want to make our state’s economy stronger,” he said. “They are trying to help underrepresented people like me find a career path they are interested in so they can create a better life for themselves and their families.”
Gomez believes the Great Admissions Redesign initiative is just the beginning for his alma mater as it renews its focus on serving the central Washington region and building up the communities in its own backyard.
“There are a lot of great things happening at CWU right now, and it’s just a matter of time before more people start taking advantage of everything they have to offer,” he said. “By removing the burden of financial aid for more prospective students, they will be able to create opportunities for so many people in this area.”
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What our other superintendents are saying:
"This is a tremendous opportunity for our students! This initiative, made possible by the hard
work of many dedicated individuals, will provide unprecedented benefits to our students,
opening doors to higher education without the burden of financial stress. This opportunity represents a significant investment in the future of our community, empowering our students to focus on their education and career goals. We're proud to be part of this effort, knowing it will positively impact Mabton students and their futures."
— Dr. Joseph Castilleja, Mabton School District Superintendent
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“Over the last year, the Grandview School District successfully finalized agreements with six
Washington colleges and universities, including Central Washington University to guarantee
college acceptance for Grandview High School students without requiring them to complete the
application process. We are now thrilled to announce an additional partnership with CWU to
pilot a program that will provide grants (money for college) for GSD students to attend CWU,
without requiring them to complete grant applications.
“CWU is doing exceptional work in removing barriers, especially for students facing significant
financial challenges, and we are fortunate to be one of only a few districts in the state to
benefit from this incredible partnership. Thanks to President Wohlpart and CWU, for many of
our students, they will be automatically accepted into the university and most, if not all, of their
college expenses will be paid for!”
— Dr. Rob Darling, Superintendent, Grandview School District
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“The West Valley School District is a strong supporter of this project to remove barriers to
higher education. We know that removing barriers will provide our students with more
opportunities for high skills, high wage jobs in the future.”
— Dr. Peter Finch, Superintendent