PACE Impact Report 2025-2026

2025–2026 PACE IMPACT REPORT

15 Years of Empowering Lives and Shaping Futures Thank you for making a difference for SLCC students

Celebrating

15 YEARS OF IMPACT

This year, we proudly celebrate the 15th anniversary of Salt Lake Community College’s Partnership for Accessing College Education (PACE) Scholarship Program. Since 2011, PACE has opened doors for students to take the next step in their journeys, whether launching straight into the workforce or continuing on to a four-year institution.

Thanks to your support, PACE has helped more than 2,000 students graduate from high school and enroll in higher education, many of them as the first in their families to attend college. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and look forward to continuing this impactful work. Together, we can help even more students reach their educational, career, and life goals.

“ At first, I didn’t think going to college would be a good idea since it’s a lot of

money and I am a first-gen student. I didn’t even know how colleges worked or who to ask for help. But now with the help of PACE, I am excited to attend college to learn more and do more. I feel guided with the PACE program, and I know I can always count on them for help.”

— Miley M. Class of 2027, Granger High School

After high school graduation, PACE students have access to:

SUMMER BRIDGE

BRUIN SCHOLARS

Established in 2021, the Summer Bridge Program prepares new SLCC students for college success through a dynamic summer experience that strengthens academic skills, builds confidence, and fosters a supportive peer community.

The Bruin Scholars Program empowers SLCC students to achieve academic and career success through personalized mentorship, access to key campus resources, transfer guidance, and enriching community-building experiences.

PACE Timeline 2025

PACE, Summer Bridge, and the Bruin Scholars Programs partner to streamline services, maximize resources, and reach more students.

We call it the student success pipeline.

2024

2024

2023

2023

Mark and Kathie Miller renew their commitment to Kearns High School and extend support for Cottonwood High School to assist efforts toward achieving 100% high school completion. They aim to improve students’ math skills in partnership with United Way and the Utah Promise Partnership.

Alonso Reyna Rivarola becomes Director of the PACE Scholarship Program.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes generous contribution to PACE for scholarship support.

PACE partners with the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation to expand into Granger High School.

2021

Mark and Kathie Miller make the largest single contribution to PACE to expand into Kearns High School.

2016

2018

PACE high school alumna Sheila De La Cruz is accepted to Harvard University as a pre-med student.

PACE expands into Cottonwood High School.

2011

PACE begins at West High School with only seven students.

2012

PACE expands into East High School and Highland High School.

PACE By the Numbers Investing in Success Since 2011

PACE is offered at

6

public high schools across the Granite and Salt Lake City School Districts

PACE has helped

OVER 2,000 students and has secured a total commitment of

$ 8 MILLION

from private donors. All funds go directly into scholarship and program support

654

PACE students have graduated from high school

527

went on to college

120

have earned degrees or certificates at SLCC of which

32

transferred to a four-year institution to earn bachelor’s degrees

A Look Ahead As PACE celebrates its 15th anniversary, the need for college access, completion, and strong pathways to careers or four-year institutions has never been more important.

Utah thrives when its residents have access to higher education. SLCC remains committed to making college attainable for all by supporting students and helping them build stable, meaningful careers. Fifteen years in and many more to go, PACE continues to show that when students are given both opportunity and support, lives are changed for generations. THANK YOU!

Who is a High School PACE Scholar?

92%

527

first-generation college students and from low-income families

794

PACE students have continued on to college

711

have completed our high school program

PACE students are currently in high school

Opening the Door to Higher Education PACE students are

15% MORE LIKELY

to complete an associate’s degree within six semesters than nonPACE peers.

SINCE 2015

the one-year retention rate for SLCC PACE students is

24% HIGHER

than the overall rate for all SLCC students.

80% OF PACE STUDENTS

enroll in higher education, with 66% accepting the scholarship to attend SLCC.

PACE Donor Highlight Marc and Debbie Bingham: A Legacy of Lifting Others

From humble beginnings to a mission driven by hope for the future, Marc and Debbie Bingham believe that when people are given a chance, they don’t just improve their own lives but also lift everyone around them.

That belief directly influences how Marc and Debbie choose to give. Through the Marc C. & Deborah H. Bingham Foundation, they actively support programs like the PACE Scholarship Program at SLCC, helping first-generation students access the guidance and resources they need to succeed.

“You come into this world with nothing, and you leave with nothing,” Marc says simply. “We’re not taking anything with us to the afterlife. We’re giving it all away to what has mattered most to us.”

When the College approached them with a grant request for the PACE program, the focus on first-generation college students immediately resonated.

“When we learned that PACE is focused on first-generation students, that really aligned with how we felt about giving back,” Debbie says. “If you can change the direction for one student, you can change the direction for their entire family.”

For Marc, the impact extends even further. “I reflect on my life and remember several times when someone helped me. My life could have taken a different path. But one changed life can influence a thousand.”

Despite their considerable reach, the Binghams remain intentionally private. “We don’t need a pat on the back,” Debbie says. “We’re rewarded when we see our community stronger because someone was lifted up.”

“We view philanthropy much like parenting,” Marc continues. “When you watch your child succeed, you know you had a hand in giving them the opportunity. That’s what makes it meaningful.”

Guided by gratitude and shaped by experience, the Binghams have created more than a foundation; they’ve built a lasting pathway of opportunity.

“ Many of our students are first-generation college students. PACE

provides the guidance their families want to offer but may not know how. Completing FAFSA and registering for the correct classes can be challenging. But on-site PACE advisors really help our students through each step. I believe some of our students would not have graduated without PACE. They didn’t lack ability; they just needed a little help.

”

— Danny Stirland, Principal, Kearns High School

A Student’s Story

Belén Castro Ruiz: Shooting for the Stars!

When Belén began high school, college hadn’t even crossed her mind because it didn’t feel like an option.

“At the time, I wasn’t thinking about college,” Belén says. “I was barely a freshman, just trying to survive high school. Then I showed my mom a flyer about the PACE Scholarship Program, and she encouraged me to apply, telling me not to let an opportunity pass me by.”

Belén was the only one in her friend group who applied to PACE. “When I was accepted into the PACE Scholarship Program, I didn’t know what to expect,” Belén explains.

“Many of my friends weren’t taking school seriously, and I slowly started falling into that same mindset. I was skipping classes, not doing my homework, lying to my mom, and getting bad grades.”

However, Belén’s PACE advisor believed in her potential and sensed something was wrong.

They reached out to her mother and learned that Belen’s father had passed away from cancer just a few months before the start of her first year.

“Losing him at such a young age broke me,” she shares. “I was a teenage girl trying to process that loss while surrounded by bad influences. I definitely wasn’t set up for success. But my advisor kept having those tough conversations with me and encouraging me to keep going. It was time for me to shoot for the stars.”

As a first-generation college student, Belen officially began her journey at SLCC in the summer of 2021. “I found a sense of belonging right away,” she says. “I met new people, built meaningful friendships, and even got an on-campus job that helped me stay grounded and involved. My PACE advisors continued to check in, and it always felt like there was a team behind me, invested in my success.”

With support from SLCC and the PACE program, Belén felt confident exploring her academic interests. “Having this scholarship gave me the freedom to explore different fields of study, from nursing to business.” She ultimately graduated with an associate’s degree in education from SLCC, then transferred to the University of Utah, where she earned two bachelor’s degrees in ethnic studies and gender studies.

“Being part of PACE ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made,” Belén shares.

“Someone believed in me before I believed in myself. And because of that, I want to give back and help others, too.”

Thank you for supporting SLCC students as they pursue their dreams through the PACE Scholarship Program. Your investment helps make higher education accessible and achievable. We hope you will continue to inspire students to believe in their own potential.

For more information, please contact: Development Office Salt Lake Community College 4600 South Redwood Road Salt Lake City, Utah 84123 801-957-4658 development@slcc.edu slcc.edu/development-and-alumni

Rev. 07.07.26. SLCC does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Individuals who require ADA accommodations may contact Accessibility and Disability Services at 801-957-4659.