Saint Mary’s Students Advocate For Full Funding of Cal Grant

by Tim Farley, Director of Government and Community Relations | March 17, 2014

“Without the aid I get from the Cal Grant I would not be here today, it’s that simple,” said an impassioned Vanya Vallejo Vega ’17 to State Senator Jim Beall (Democrat, San Jose) at a private meeting in his Capitol office.

Vega, along with Stephanie Hermosillo and Maria Torres, all freshmen of Saint Mary’s, joined hundreds of other Cal Grant students from the private, non-profit sector of California in urging the California legislature to reject the automatic 11 percent cut in the Governor’s proposed 2014-15 state budget.

In his budget released in January, Governor Jerry Brown maintained the 11 percent cut in Cal Grant that was part of last year’s state budget. As state revenues have increased, many in the private non-profit sector want the governor to treat them the same as the UC and CSU system and fund the Cal Grant at the previous year’s level.

Going from legislative office to office, the students met with legislators and senior staff members from their home districts to advocate for the full restoration of Cal Grants. In addition to Beall, the students met personally with Senator Lois Wolk, (Democrat, Davis) and Assembly Member Jim Frazier (Democrat, Oakley).

During a small lunch briefing, Torres, Hermosillo and Vega discussed Cal Grant with Assembly Member Susan Bonilla (Democrat, Concord), a leading proponent for full funding, who provided insight into the legislative process and gave the students tips on lobbying her colleagues on the merits of the Cal Grant.

The final budget is expected to be passed by the June 30^th deadline.