I'm extraordinarily proud of the decision by Sierra College President Leo Chavez to advance Cal Grant funding to our students. This critical financial aid, that students use to pay tuition and buy books, flows through us from the State of California, but with the state budget crisis, the state is sending students IOUs instead. Try buying your books with one of those!

Knowing full well that his Board would be highly supportive, Leo stepped up and made the commitment to advance this funding to students, and worked with the Sierra College Foundation to secure backup funding in the relatively unlikely case that the state doesn't eventually reimburse the IOUs.

Bravo to the Sierra College team…it's called putting students first, and it's exactly what we do.

Cal Grants are funded by the state and provide free money to high school graduates who meet academic, financial and eligibility requirements to cover college-related expenses.

Upon hearing that the state budget crises could mean the state controller’s office would issue IOUs instead of checks for grant recipients starting Feb. 1, Sierra College officials made a quick decision.

Leo Chavez, College superintendent/president, and the Sierra College Foundation agreed to fund the grants this semester. The grants help close to 1,000 students and in total will cost about $394,000 to cover this semester.

Chavez said the school is essentially advancing the money in hopes that the state will come through with the payments later.

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