CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison, far left, and Interim Provost Stella Theodoulou, far right, pose with the newest cohort of Bridge to the Future scholars at a reception welcoming the students and their families to the university. Photo by Lee Choo.

California State University, Northridge President Dianne F. Harrison and Provost Stella Theodoulou welcomed the second cohort of Bridge to the Future students and their families to CSUN, during a special reception on Thursday, Sept. 13.

Bridge to the Future (B2F), part of CSUN’s Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing’s Neighborhood Partners in Action initiative in Canoga Park, provides a four-year, tuition-free education to 25 students from Canoga Park High School annually. Once enrolled, the students receive a number of services, including mentoring, tutoring, access to study space and additional support as they work to complete a bachelor’s degree at CSUN.

First-year student Jose Salcedo said the support he has received so far from the Bridge to the Future program has helped him adjust to college life.

CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison, standing center, and David Boyns, standing right, greet students at a reception welcoming this year’s cohort of Bridge to the Future scholars. Photo by Lee Choo.

“At first, I was so shy but now, in the third week of college, I feel comfortable and I know I can do it,” Salcedo said, at the reception held at the Orange Grove Bistro prior CSUN’s New Student Convocation.

As a Bridge to the Future scholar, Jonathan Lopez said the program eased his parents’ worries about how they would be able to support him as a first-generation college student.“ They we’re even happier when I told them they didn’t have to pay a single penny, since B2F will cover most of my expenses,” he said.

Bridge to the Future is a collaborative creation of CSUN’s Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing and the Canoga Park community. As part of the effort to cement the partnership between CSUN and the community, the university created the Bridge to the Future Program. As B2F scholars, students participate in 20 hours of community service in the community, in an effort to foster a sense of pride within Canoga Park.

The Bridge to the Future programand NPA are designed to help optimize Canoga Park’s resources, collect data about community needs and form partnerships to foster relationships between residents, local businesses and the university. The goal is to establish sustainable relationships between CSUN and the community, and create a college-going culture in Canoga Park.

Bridge to the Future, Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing, Neighborhood Partners in Action