Seniors at in Dallas had a lot to celebrate on Wednesday. Many of them have plans to go to college tuition free. That鈥檚 thanks to a new initiative called .
There to celebrate with them was former second lady Jill Biden, a community college proponent and professor at Northern Virginia Community College.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e done so much to stand with your classmates today. You鈥檝e studied. You鈥檝e planned,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e juggled homework and sports and clubs and family obligations and I鈥檓 sure many of you, like I did, I had a job in high school. You鈥檝e worried at times, but hey, you did it.鈥�
is a partnership between , Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas at Dallas and groups like the .
Students who applied had to be a graduating senior and attend one of 23 Dallas ISD high schools. Students were eligible regardless of their grades or income.
Participating students get free tuition to any college in the Dallas Community College District. They鈥檙e also eligible for scholarships to transfer to the University of North Texas at Dallas or Southern Methodist University.
Jireh Triana, a senior at Sunset High School, plans to attend , then transfer to SMU to study law and become a criminal defense attorney.
She says she鈥檒l be the first in her family to attend college.
鈥淭here should be more opportunities like this,鈥� Jireh said. 鈥淏ecause this can really help students and going to college can inspire them to make bigger decisions and dream big and hopefully accomplish their goals.鈥�
