PepsiCo and its philanthropic arm, The PepsiCo Foundation, announced the expansion of The PepsiCo Foundation Community College Program to nine new community colleges including the Alamo Colleges District. With this expansion, the program aims to provide over 1,400 scholarship opportunities for Black and Hispanic students across the country by the end of 2022.

Launched in March 2021, this $40 million program supports incoming community college students and graduating students transitioning to four-year colleges. The program aims to address the historical barriers that often make it challenging for minority students to enroll, persist, and graduate from college. The pandemic is posing even more obstacles for Black and Hispanic college students, resulting in a staggering decline in student enrollment and degree completion. The PepsiCo Foundation’s investment seeks to create equitable access, especially for students who rely on community colleges for economic mobility.

The PepsiCo Foundation’s Uplift program is designed for students seeking associate degrees or professional certificates that are not often covered by federal student aid.

“We are honored to be part of this remarkable initiative by The PepsiCo Foundation,” said Dr. Mike Flores, Alamo Colleges District Chancellor. “This scholarship opportunity will transform lives for many of our students through the power of education. (https://www.alamo.edu/news–events/news/)