Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
MDC Continues American Dream Scholarship, Expanding College Access to Thousands Annually
Those of us at Miami Dade College have been changing lives since 1960. We did it last year with the American Dream Scholarship and more than 2,400 students qualified. I am happy to announce that we are continuing the program for another year.
We all know that to fully participate in our current economy, a high school diploma is not enough, even though it is a necessary first step. The question is not whether students should go to college, but how to make it happen.
The American Dream Scholarship covers in-state tuition for two years of college (60 college-level credits) at Miami Dade College for all high school graduates from Miami-Dade County who may not have sufficient aid or none at all. To receive the scholarship, students must:
- Have a cumulative weighted high school GPA of 3.00 or above
- Be ready for college-level courses, based on standardized test scores
- Have applied for federal financial aid
The scholarship would cover any tuition and eligible class fees remaining after all other scholarships, financial aid, grants, and Florida Prepaid College Plan have been applied. For additional provisions and details, please visit our American Dream Scholarship website.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has said, “Community colleges must play a critical role as we work to lead the world in college graduates by 2020. Initiatives like the American Dream Scholarship at Miami Dade College will help us achieve this goal while making college a reality for thousands of students.”
The American Dream Scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of members of the greater Miami community. In celebrating MDC's 50th anniversary last year, the community broke all records for philanthropic giving, creating a new avenue of possibility for students. These benefactors recognized the importance of a college education, and the quality of education provided by Miami Dade College.
Thank you.
Eduardo