Hartnell named in publication as “top producer of AA degrees for minority students”

A major honor for Hartnell College. The school is being recognized in a national publication released on Thursday.

The August 23, 2018 edition of “Diverse Issues in Higher Education” calls Hartnell College a “top producer of associate degrees for minority students” for the 2015-2016 year.

Hartnell ranked 9th (89-percent) out of more than 1,400 schools nationally, one of four in California and the only one on the Central Coast. Other schools in the top ten are in major areas such as Los Angeles and New York.

“I think the recognition is humbling and motivating at the same time,” said Jackie Cruz, Vice President of Advancement and Development for Hartnell College.

The school has 17,000 students, about 70-percent of them are minorities.

“It helps us assert that we are moving in the right direction, that the kinds of programs and support that we have for the students is working, that the students here in the Salinas Valley do see a value coming to Hartnell and that they do see a value in higher education,” Cruz said.

Some of the popular programs that Hartnell College offers are in business, agriculture, nursing and psychology.

We met one student who is getting an AA in mechanical engineering. He said he hopes others will be inspired to get more education after high school.

“It’s actually a very good thing that we get this opportunity because not a lot of community colleges have mechanical associate’s,” Jose Ramos said. “It’s something we should really take advantage of in the Hispanic community.”

The school hopes to inspire other students to pursue higher education, this is the first time they’re offering a year of free tuition to students.

“I feel like people look at Hartnell as like, another school after high school but I feel like Hartnell and the staff here really helps you pursue your dreams and they really encourage you to do better,” Angelina Ruiz said.

“But the students, they have grit. They have as we call it, they have the ganas, they have the desire and they work hard at it and as an institution, we’re here to support that grit and the desire to want to do more in life,” Cruz said.