Project STAY, which stands for Scholarships To Able Youth, was established in 1968 and is funded by the Department of Education. The college placement specialists of Project STAY are college-degreed professionals who actively recruit high school seniors in their target school districts: Harlandale, San Antonio, Edgewood and South San. Counselors assist students with admissions, SAT/ACT, and financial aid applications. They also intervene with any related problems.
You do not have to be a high school student to enroll in Project STAY; target clients are low income, first generation college students. Upon enrollment, counselors will help you every step of the way to earn a certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree.
For students who wish to continue their higher education, Project STAY will refer you to the financial aid office at the university of your choice. Students are not limited to apply at local colleges and universities; Project STAY offers admission and placement services at universities throughout the United States.
Freshman Karla Gomez, an Education and Accounting major at Palo Alto, is a client of Project STAY. Gomez graduated from Lanier High School in 2000, where counselors met with her and other senior classmates to determine their needs.
“They wanted to know what college or university I was interested in attending,” Gomez said. A counselor then guided her through the process of admission, testing and financial aid.
Gomez plans to transfer to Our Lady of The Lake University and knows that Project STAY will continue to help her with applications and financial aid.
“The hardest part you have to go through in life is going to school,” said Yolanda Rodriguez Jones, College Placement Specialist at Project STAY for three years. Jones earned her bachelor’s degree in Vocational Education from Southwest Texas State University, and she was a teacher for ten years.
Jones understands that some students have family and work obligations and are struggling to attend college. Counselors help students with alternative degree plans to meet their needs.
Project STAY’s clients range in age from 19 to 65 years of age. Most clients are referrals, walk-ins or former students. All information and interviews are confidential.
Project STAY is located at 700 S. Zarzamora St., Suite 103. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Contact them at (210) 433-9307 or visit www.projectstay.org