SAN ANTONIO—Many high school students who live in the low-income neighborhoods of San Antonio’s West Side never even consider college as a possibility. Ariana Hernandez is an exception, thanks in large part to a program supported by Baptist Child & Family Services .
Hernandez, a senior at Harlandale High School, recently was accepted to Angelo State University after receiving help from College VISTA, a program founded by Maria Fernandez.
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Ariana Hernandez
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“Ms. Fernandez is a huge help,” Hernandez said. “She organizes the paperwork for the colleges we plan on applying to and gives us the extra push to meet deadlines for scholarships. She makes it so much easier.”
Fernandez started small with only five students in 2007. She has since then helped West Side students win nearly $1 million in scholarships to schools, including Dartmouth College, Loyola University-Chicago and Columbia College-Chicago, as well as Baylor University, Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin.
VISTA partners with Guadalupe Street Coffee, a community ministry and development project of Baptist Child & Family that provides free computer access and a safe place for weekly advising sessions.
The Baptist General Convention of Texas, San Antonio Baptist Association, Trinity Baptist Church and Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio support the project.
VISTA and Guadalupe Street Coffee offer one-on-one advising for students who need assistance with the college application process, including tutoring for college entrance examinations, financial aid and career advising.
“VISTA students always have priority,” Hernandez said. “We can stay late at the coffee house if we need to, and the computers help us out tremendously.”
Individual counseling partnered with convenient scheduling and location is what sets the program apart. VISTA works with students, parents, school counselors and universities for the benefit of the student.
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Students eligible to participate in the VISTA program must be enrolled in grades eight through 12, have at least a “B” grade point average with good school attendance, be committed to attending VISTA advising sessions and have the desire and determination to go to college.
Many are following a dream to be the first person in their family to attend college.
Hernandez plans to major in education and obtain teaching certification. Her long-range goals include earning a master’s degree and returning to San Antonio’s West Side to teach third graders.
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