PACE IS a college-readiness program here at Granger that 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade Lancers can join. It stands for Partnership for Access to College Education and is a program that helps many students become eligible to graduate with a scholarship to SLCC. It can pay for up to two years of college by creating many opportunities and helping high school students who may have financial difficulties.

Nnenna Eke-koh is one of the pace advisers here at Granger. She looks over the 10th and 11th-grade students. Pace is a high school scholarship program run by Salt Lake Community College that can help students pay for up to two years of college. This is very beneficial for many reasons, including the fact that some families lack the financial means to get their kids into college. “One of the main things PACE focuses on is first-generation and low-income students,” Eke-koh said.  This program provides skills, experience, and readiness for when they do get out of high school and start college.

PACE applications are always open, but there may be a waiting list. The 9th graders’ deadline to apply is in September. If you are in any other grade and submit after the deadline, you will be put on a waiting list. “One of our goals is to make sure that everyone has equal access to higher education,” Eke-koh said.

There’s another adviser at Granger, too. They call him Mr C. He mainly keeps track of first-year students and helps many of them with their math. Both advisors keep track of their students by meeting with them once in the spring and once in the fall. Although they try to help as much as they can, they only have 60 spots per grade, so if a student is pulled out of the program for some reason, they pull someone from the wait list to fill their place.

Pace offers a comfortable environment where many Lancers can come and connect with other students. They’ve created a large community of first-generation and low-income students. This has also created a supportive, mutual environment for students who can come hang out and be around others who share the same experiences. They run events that are college and readiness-based. They’re fun, but they’re also educational. They do campus tours, field trips, workshops, socials, and learning lounges. “We run these events for fun and to have everyone connect with everyone and their community,” Eke-koh said. During these events, they host games, win prizes, and the advisors make sure students have something to munch on in the meantime.

Zahra Vardak (11) is the president of this program. Her role is to follow through on items given to her with the VPs and secretaries. “I like how we are given opportunities to set our minds on community college outside,” she said. They have a chance to have that, which is incredibly beneficial. She likes how close everyone is and how quickly they become friends through the events the advisers host. At these events, they play games, watch movies, and serve snacks to everyone. “I recommend this program to others because it’s something not everyone has, especially not every district. There are requirements in PACE, but I think they aren’t hard to achieve or sustain,” she said.

Jasmine Mandujano (11) is a Lancer who’s been in the pace program since her first year. “Overall, Pace is a very good program. For first-gen students, it’s a great way to prepare you for college, even if you decide not to attend. If you ever wanted to get into more detail about colleges, I know I can go to Nnenna and talk to her about anything and everything,” she said.

If you want to go to college, PACE is a great way to prepare. It has many benefits and is a great club.