Gloria Cabrera joined MassEdCO's On Our Way program for teen parents in May 2015 when she was a senior at Worcester Technical High School. Her son was born in November of that year, soon after she began classes at Quinsigamond Community College. With ongoing support from the On Our Way program, Gloria continued classes at QCC in spring 2016 while raising her son and holding down a full-time job. That dedication won her a Teen Parent Recognition Award from the Worcester Area Teen Pregnancy & Parenting Network in May 2016.
Soon after receiving information about the One Family Scholars program, Gloria completed her application and submitted all required documentation. Recently, Gloria received word that she has been named a One Family Scholar, which will mean she will receive financial aid for the coming year as well as coaching and counseling. Her On Our Way education advocate, Maggie Day, says, "Gloria will be an asset to this program and is a model for On Our Way participants."
One Family Scholars is a comprehensive college scholarship program for Massachusetts residents that breaks the cycle of poverty and family homelessness for low-income, single parents. The One Family Scholars program values higher education as the surest pathway to family self-sufficiency.
With the skills and experience gained from their tenure in the program, One Family Scholars become role models for their children, providing them with the foundation for a stable life.
The scholarship includes a last-dollar tuition scholarship, funds for books/supplies, and a small incentive-based stipend. However, unlike traditional scholarship programs that focus solely on tuition assistance, the One Family Scholars model also includes comprehensive coaching and counseling focused on four building blocks for success: College Success, Financial Success, Career Success and Leadership Success.
This unique approach helps Scholars earn their degree as quickly and efficiently as possible, while minimizing the amount of education debt they incur, so they can enter the workforce and secure family-sustaining employment in their field.