It has been only a year since Gabriel Solis Ramos enrolled in the Business Administration Program at Wytheville Community College (WCC). When he began his college career, he was selected to participate in the Student Support Services Program, better known as Project AIM. This program has given Ramos the needed support to succeed as a first-generation college student. Ramos has attended the majority of his classes at WCC’s location at Crossroads in Galax and through online courses.
Project AIM has provided the needed support for Ramos to keep on track with his classes and help him to apply for scholarships and financial aid. Ramos said, “If it weren’t for them (Project AIM), I would be behind. They’re always there.” The Project AIM program’s staff has been instrumental in Ramos’s success with helping him stay motivated in class, checking up on him to make sure everything is going well, and providing tutors when needed.
Ramos’s favorite thing about Project AIM is the staff. Jessica Phillips, Program Assistant of Project AIM stated, “Gabriel is a kind student who has the determination and a drive to succeed.”
On track to complete an associate degree at WCC, Ramos plans to transfer to a four-year university or college. WCC has a wide range of transfer agreements with colleges and universities in Virginia, so if Ramos continues to do well at WCC, he can be guaranteed admission to even his top choice of Virginia Tech. Ramos has also been able to apply for scholarships available through the WCC Educational Foundation and the WCC Scholarship Foundation. He has received two scholarships so far that have helped him complete courses without having the burden of college debt.
Since 1970 WCC’s Project AIM has given students the resources and support to rise above their circumstances. As a federally funded TRIO program, Student Support Services, or “Project AIM,” has provided services to hundreds of WCC students. The program’s mission is to provide support services to eligible WCC students to enhance academic performance with the goal of increasing their retention, graduation and transfer rates. For more information about Project AIM visit https://www.wcc.vccs.edu/project-aim-student-support-services or contact Charlotte Mowery, Project AIM Coordinator at (276)223-4756 or cmowery@wcc.vccs.edu.
The WCC Education Foundation and the WCC Scholarship Foundation provide funding that enhances the work of WCC and provides needed scholarships to eligible students. Every year the WCC Educational Foundation and the WCC Scholarship Foundation award over $900,000 in scholarships. Additionally, the WCC Educational Foundation provides funds to purchase needed equipment or supplies for WCC programs and activities. To learn about how you can give to the WCC Educational Foundation or the WCC Scholarship Foundation visit www.wcc.vccs.edu/ways-to-give or call (276) 223-4771.
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