When Dariana Zavala got home from kindergarten, school was just beginning. She would race to her bedroom, grab her dolls, and lead them in reciting their ABCs.
Today, Zavala is no longer pretending to be a teacher but working toward becoming one, pursuing San Jacinto College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in early childhood education. And her childhood dream is happening thanks to the Promise @ San Jac Scholarship.
“The Promise Scholarship didn’t create my dream of becoming a teacher, but it gave me the opportunity to pursue it — to turn something I dreamed about as a child into a real career goal,” she said.
Turning dreams into degrees
Zavala numbers among nearly 14,000 students who have become Promise Scholars since 2021. Like nearly two-thirds of Promise Scholars, she is the first in her family to pursue a degree.
The Promise @ San Jac Scholarship removes one of the biggest barriers to earning a degree: paying tuition. Promise covers 100% of in-district tuition for eligible high school seniors living in San Jac’s taxing district.
“The scholarship allowed me to focus more on my classes and my future instead of worrying how I would pay for my education,” Zavala said.
Funded through generous donors, Promise has provided more than $11.8 million in tuition and academic support to students pursuing workforce certificates and associate degrees. Some, like Zavala, pursue a bachelor’s degree at San Jac after completing their Promise funding.
The community’s investment is paying off. Not only are Promise Scholars graduating and persisting at higher rates than their peers, but the in-district college-going rate has climbed from 48.2% to 56.8% since 2019.
Dariana Zavala
Investing beyond the classroom
Promise’s impact extends beyond college.
Each fall, about 2,500 in-district high school graduates become Promise Scholars. After finishing at San Jac, they bring new skills into the workforce while strengthening their families’ economic stability.
“The students supported through Promise become the nurses, technicians, educators, first responders, petrochemical operators, and skilled workers who keep our community and economy running,” said Dr. Samantha Miro, San Jacinto College Foundation executive director.
For Miro, that makes Promise much more than a scholarship program.
“It’s a lasting investment in the region’s workforce and economic mobility,” she said. “It will allow more students to enroll, persist, and complete credentials in high-demand fields and start the next chapter of their journey without the burden of student loans.”
Nearing the goal
The community has invested significantly in that vision. San Jac is already 92% of the way toward reaching its $30 million Promise endowment goal. Funding the remaining $2.5 million will ensure future generations can continue to pursue college without the stress of debt.
“Our work is not finished,” Miro said. “Many students continue to face financial obstacles, family obligations, transportation barriers, and life challenges that interrupt their education. Completing the endowment will ensure future generations of Promise Scholars can access the support to overcome those barriers and succeed long-term.”
That future matters even to community members whose children and grandchildren have already finished college. When students earn credentials and enter careers, employers gain talent. Families experience greater financial stability. And the community benefits from the resulting economic growth.
For Zavala, that impact will begin when she welcomes kids into her classroom for the first time.
“I love the idea of helping children learn, grow, and become more confident in themselves,” she said. “I want to create a classroom where my students feel safe, supported, and excited to come to school.”
A gift to Promise makes dreams like Zavala’s possible for students now and for generations to come.
To learn how to become a Promise Partner, visit https://www.sanjac.edu/about/foundation/giving-options/promise-campaign/
Promise by the Numbers
13,884: Promise Scholars since 2021
92%: Promise endowment already funded
$2.5 million: Still needed to reach $30 million goal*
39.8%: Three-year graduation rate for Promise Scholars (compared with 24.4% for non-Promise students)
80%: Promise Scholars who persist from first to second semester (compared to 65% among other students)
56.8%: In-district college-going rate (up from 48.2% in 2019)
$11.8 million: Tuition and academic support awarded since launch
* Ensures endowment will fund Promise Scholars in perpetuity
By Courtney Morris
