San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Gives $189,000 for Student Services Partnership

Continuing its commitment to education in the Inland Empire, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has donated more than $189,000 to the Crafton Hills College Foundation to maintain the direct student support services for at‐risk students through the Santos Manuel Student Success Partnership- Enhancing the Student Bridge, established in 2010 and named in honor of the first leader and namesake of the San Manuel Indian Reservation.

“Those students whose dreams of earning a college degree are at the greatest risk of being stripped away by state budget cuts will now have the additional support they need at Crafton Hills College,” said San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman James Ramos “From tutoring and counseling support to textbook grants and transfer workshops, the program augments the critical student services that are helping to prepare our future firefighters, teachers, and lab technicians of tomorrow.”

This donation will make it possible for Crafton Hills College students to continue to receive additional academic and financial support to successfully continue and/or achieve their educational goals. The project improves the student retention, persistence and graduation rates by providing vital student services to qualified students—including at‐risk emancipated foster youth, first‐generation college students, single parents, re‐entry students, the recently unemployed, and returning veterans.

Specifically, the program will support the development of the following:
• Additional one‐on‐one tutoring
• Textbook grants
• Educational supply packets
• Personal, career and transfer assistance (including help with applications, requirements and other follow‐up materials)

“The Santos Manuel Student Success Partnership goes a long way towards providing direct student support services to help nurture the students who most need assistance in pursuing their educational goals,” said Crafton Hills College Foundation President Donald Nydam. “In effect, San Manuel is standing in the gap for a large group of college students who, at any given time, are one layoff or family emergency away from losing out on their higher education dreams.”

Representatives from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will be recognized for this donation and their continued support at the Annual Crafton Hills College Foundation Gala Dinner & Auction to be held at the Hilton San Bernardino on Saturday, April 9th at 6:00 p.m. For tickets or more information on this event, call (909) 389‐3245. The grant also includes a Presenting Sponsorship for the Gala, half of which goes towards student classes at CHC.

About the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
The San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians is a federally recognized American Indian tribe located near the city of Highland, Calif. The Serrano Indians are the indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys and mountains who share a common language and culture. The San Manuel reservation was established in 1891 and recognized as sovereign nation with the right of self‐government. Since time immemorial, the San Manuel tribal community has endured change and hardship. Amidst these challenges the tribe continued to maintain its unique form of governance. Like other governments it seeks to provide a better quality of life for its citizens by building infrastructure, maintaining civil services and promoting social, economic and cultural development. Today San Manuel tribal government oversees many governmental units including the departments of fire, public safety, education and environment.