On the Road: Bus Tour Testimonials

Praise from the media:

"According to the U.S. Department of Education, out of every 100 Latino students only 11 will get a bachelor's degree by the time they reach 29. But the Sallie Mae Fund National Bus Tour is trying to change that as it travels the nation visiting Latino communities in an effort to educate students about their college options."
—San Gabriel Valley Tribune, February 19, 2007

"Many Hispanic families want their children to go to college, but only about half of the parents and two out of five young adults in that ethnic group have ever heard of a single way to help them pay for it, studies show. Come Monday, they'll get a chance to learn some things about financial aid through several workshops scheduled in Osceola County. The Sallie Mae Fund Paying for College Bus Tour will put on an evening workshop in English and Spanish at Poinciana High School to share information about scholarships, grants, loans and federal aid."
—Orlando Sentinel, October 15, 2006

"The Sallie Mae Fund's outreach programs could change the lives of students who otherwise might think they can't afford college."
—Hartford Courant, August, 26 2005

Praise from students and families:

"Thank you again for the work that you do across the nation. Your work is so very important. The seeds you are planting around the country will some day come to fruition and many lives will have been changed."
—Parent in Texas

"[The Sallie Mae Fund's] Bus Tour informs Latino students that there is help out there, and we should not get our hopes down."
—Student in California

"It made me know that people do care about us and there's stuff out there for us."
—Student in California

"What you told us about not allowing ourselves to believe for any reason that we're not capable of getting into college and getting money to put towards college really encouraged me. I know that the only way to put myself in a position to be able to do greater good is by getting an education. I greatly admire your desire to show less-advantaged kids that they can make more of their lives than maybe their parents have been able to and your diligence in traveling across the country to inform us of all of the resources that we can take advantage of. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sincere effort to help us and to help make society better."
—Student in Florida

Praise from schools:

"This was truly a memorable event that we plan to use as the kick-off for a series of planned college access and financial aid workshops."
—GEAR UP Coordinator in New Jersey

"Thank you for including our students to be a part of the fantastic presentation by the Sallie Mae Fund. It was truly a momentous and meaningful event. From the Guidance Department's point of view, we are always looking for opportunities for our students to gain more knowledge and experiences that will lead them toward higher education."
—Guidance Counselor in New Jersey

Praise from policymakers:

"For many Texas families, this spring brings with it an important event: high school graduation. Graduation is a proud time for families, but it can also be a source of anxiety about the future. The fact is, too many families want to send their children to college, but don't know how to find the resources to make that dream a reality. I am pleased that The Sallie Mae Fund's 'Paying for College' Bus Tour is stopping in Laredo to bring resources about college access and to send the message that a college education is within reach."
—Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX)

"As the spouse of a retired public school teacher, I have long been a staunch supporter of our educational system. Today, far too many students are being left out of the dream of a college education, and that hurts more than just the individual - it hurts the country. I am pleased that The Sallie Mae Fund is taking such an active role in increasing access to information about planning and paying for college for Texas students."
—Representative Gene Green (D-TX)

"I am proud to serve as honorary chair for The Sallie Mae Fund's Paying for College Bus Tour. Making higher education more affordable is not only a commitment of mine, but it is also among my top legislative priorities. I proudly cosponsored the College Cost Reduction Act, which was recently signed into law on September 27, 2007. This historic legislation invests in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and minority-serving institutions. Also, it will make college more affordable across the country and ease the burden of college costs on our young people. I will continue to be a strong voice for education, which is the key to the American dream."
—Representative John Lewis (D-GA)

"Four years ago I learned that The Sallie Mae Fund was going to launch a national tour in response to the survey findings" [showing that Latinos lag behind the national average in college attendance] ... "I asked that they present their workshops and seminars to the Latino community of Long Island and they have been helping my constituents ever since. I strongly believe that many more young Latinos would be attending college if they were made aware of financial aid opportunities available."
—Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY)

"In order to thrive in the modern U.S. economy, a college education has become a necessity. Unfortunately, for too many minority students in America, access to a college degree is out of reach due to a lack of money, not motivation. I salute The Sallie Mae Fund's Paying for College Bus Tour and am proud to hitch a ride in support of making college more affordable for all Americans."
—Representative James P. Moran (D-VA)

"The Sallie Mae Fund Paying for College Bus Tour comes at a time when education has moved to center stage in the District. Parents are ready to get on board for whatever they can learn about financing a college education today."
—Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

"Language barriers can also widen the financial-aid awareness gap that separates the haves and the have-nots. I want to thank The Sallie Mae Fund for investing in a real solution."
—California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez

"I believe that education is the key to alleviating poverty and to getting good competitive jobs. The good news is that more than 90 percent of African-American and Latino parents believe a college education is an important part of success in life. The bad news is that 51 percent of Latino parents and 45 percent of African-American parents cannot name a single source of financial aid. I am grateful to The Sallie Mae Fund and the national education partners for its efforts to reverse this trend."
—Representative Donald M. Payne (D-NJ)

"In Maryland and around the country, I know how critical it is that we give our students and families the information they need to make college possible. I'm working to bring more free resources like The Sallie Mae Fund Paying for College Bus Tour into our community, so we can ensure that no student is denied the opportunity to go to college just because they don't think they can afford it."
—Representative Albert Wynn (D-MD)