Salvador Romero was a first-generation college student and working two jobs when he enrolled in TMCC’s HVAC/R Program last year. “I have a couple of friends who graduated from the program and they encouraged me to try it,” he said. However, like many TMCC students, Romero found it difficult to hold onto two jobs, take classes, pay the mortgage on his house and still be a parent to two children.
“It was a crazy schedule,” he said. “I was up by 6 a.m. and then in class until 12:30 p.m. and then I’d go to work until 10 or 11 o’clock at night.” On weekends, he worked at his other job. At a certain point, he was encouraged to apply for scholarships through the TMCC Foundation and was awarded a scholarship that helped to cover the cost of tuition, books, tools, as well as other financial obligations.
For Romero, applying through the TMCC Foundation for scholarships had a huge impact on his ability to focus on his classes. “It was really easy to apply for scholarships,” Romero said. “Sometimes you have to follow a few guidelines for them, that included meeting with a counselor or attending a workshop, but was totally worth it.”
Salvador Romero graduated in Spring 2021 from TMCC's HVAC program, and said that the experience was life-changing.
Romero is one example of hundreds of TMCC students who have benefited from receiving a scholarship. These scholarships exist thanks to the generosity of donors throughout the community who continue to support student success at TMCC.
Thanks to the scholarships Romero received in May 2021, he crossed the commencement stage to earn his Certificate of Achievement as his family watched and cheered him on. The experience is one he will never forget.
“This absolutely changed my life,” he said. “After completing my certificate, I have one job where I make more money than I did when I was working two. If it wasn’t for that scholarship, I don’t know if I would have made it through college.”
TMCC Foundation Scholarships
If you are interested in supporting student success at TMCC, there’s no time like the present to make a gift to the TMCC Foundation. A gift can be made in any amount, and will be used to support hundreds of students like Romero who are pursuing their education and careers. You can choose to make a one-time gift, an annual gift or an endowed scholarship, which requires an initial investment of $5,000.
These scholarships literally change lives, and make a lasting impact not only on individual students, but on our community. Romero knows this first hand: these days he is an HVAC professional, supporting residential and commercial clients across the Truckee Meadows Community. Thanks to the generosity of donors to the TMCC Foundation, Romero’s future is very bright indeed.
“I never thought I would go to college,” he said. “But I did, and as I said, it totally changed my life.”
For more information about how you can help students like Romero achieve their professional dreams, contact the TMCC Foundation at 775-673-7127.