Thank You, PAC Family!

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for making this morning’s event—PAC’s Presidential Scholarship and Time Capsule Ceremony—a success! We had 5 television stations (KENS, KSAT, Fox29, KWEX and Univision) and a radio station (WOAI) on campus to record the event, along with a number of local dignitaries, parents, the PAC community, and of course, 100 Third Grade Students!

The focus of the ceremony was to set a goal of higher education for the parents and students of the 2005/2006 Third Grade Class of Palo Alto Elementary School. Palo Alto College seeks to instill in these “Scholarship Students” the realization that their formal education does not end when they graduate from high school. Instead, attending Palo Alto College will be the natural progression of their educational process. These “Scholarship Students” will be an active part of the PAC community for the next 10 years.

Thank you for all your help, and I’ll be looking for your assistance again in 2015!

PAC Taste of Technology Event

Palo Alto College will host 250 students from Southside High School March 1-2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at various locations across campus. The purpose of this event is to showcase the many occupational and technological programs available at PAC. For more information on this event, please call the office of Academic Affairs at (210) 921-5533.

Today's interesting "Article of the Day" comes to us from Sandra Block, Your Money columnist for USAToday. In her column, Sandra writes that millions of families leave money on the table every year by overlooking valuable education tax breaks. She reports that a 2005 study by the GAO found that 27% of taxpayers who were eligible for a tax deduction or credit for their college expenses didn't claim the tax break.

College Loan Corp. has put together a brochure on tax breaks, available at www.collegeloan.com

PAC Presidential Scholarship & Time Capsule Ceremony

WHAT: Palo Alto College Presidential Scholarship and Time Capsule Ceremony.

WHO: Palo Alto College President Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzmán will award a college scholarship to the entire 3rd Grade Class of Palo Alto Elementary School (almost 100 students!) in a ceremony to be held on the PAC campus. Afterward, the students will bury a “Time Capsule,” which will be opened when they are incoming Freshmen at PAC in August 2015.

WHEN: Friday, February 24, 2006 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Performing Arts Building Center Courtyard (look for the two large tents)

WHY: To set a goal of higher education for the parents and students of the 2005/2006 Third Grade Class of Palo Alto Elementary School. Palo Alto College seeks to instill in these “Scholarship Students” the realization that their formal education does not end when they graduate from high school. Instead, attending Palo Alto College will be the natural progression of their educational process. These “Scholarship Students” will be an active part of the PAC community for the next 10 years.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:
Burial of Time Capsule by 100 3rd Grade students.
Parents of 3rd Grade students to witness Scholarship Ceremony
Palo Alto College faculty and staff on-hand to welcome Scholarship Students to PAC family


Directions to Palo Alto College
The campus is located at 1400 W. Villaret Blvd. at I-410 South and Texas Hwy. 16. From Downtown, take I35 South. Pass S.W. Military Dr. Stay in the left lane and exit on Hwy 16 to Poteet. Go three (3) traffic lights and turn left on Villaret Blvd. Turn right on the 2nd driveway onto the campus. Drive straight through to Visitor Parking by the Administration Building. Look for the flag poles facing Loop 410.
The Performing Arts Center Courtyard is adjacent to the Administration Building, which is identifiable by the two flag poles.

On the lighter side: Read "To: Professor @ University . edu Subject: Why It's All About Me" by Jonathan D. Glater in the New York Times to see how email has made professors more accessible to students. Is it a good or bad thing; you decide!

February is Financial Aid Awareness Month

To heighten awareness of the availability of financial aid for students and the importance of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is again marketing February as Financial Aid Awareness Month.

To find out how to get help in filling out the FAFSA--in English or Spanish--visit www.CollegeforTexans.com or go directly to the FAFSA website at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings cautions potential college students and their families that choosing a college is one of the most important and expensive decisions a family can make. I recommend visiting the sites listed above for information on how you can receive financial aid for your college education.