PHARR, Texas – The College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) North High School alumnus Thomas Ray Garcia.
CSLAP, which started as a summer program, hosts college access events and provides personalized one-on-one sessions for high school students attending schools in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) in South Texas.
Garcia, a Pharr native, says CSLAP expands opportunities, enhances applications, and grants scholarships. In doing so, he says, CSLAP aims to increase college enrollment rates and form a support system for students going to and through college.
“From 2013-2017, we hosted summer institutes for rising seniors at PSJA ISD. We raised awareness about applying to college through workshops, provided mentorship through year-long communication, and provided transition support for graduating seniors. Our curriculum became PSJA’s University Scholars Enrichment Course,” said Garcia, CSLAP’s executive director.
“In 2019, we became an incorporated nonprofit organization. We have continued our work by partnering with local school districts to teach college access lessons and with nonprofits to uplift our community outside the classroom.”
Here is a video interview with Garcia about the work of CSLAP:
Video
Editor’s Note: The above video story is the first in a two-part series on the work of Thomas Ray Garcia. Part Two will appear in our next edition.
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