Missions statement:

The Black Student Success Center is a newly founded program that has opened on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus! We are dedicated to helping African American students succeed academically on campus, along with those who identify with Black culture. Our mission is to inspire, empower, and educate African Americans through academic support programs, counseling, and mentoring that will help them prepare for college life which includes their future careers. 

The SRJC Black Student Union and the SRJC Foundation are pleased to announce the creation of a new scholarship to support Black SRJC students the Sawubona Black Student Scholarship. Sawubona is a Swahili word meaning 'I see you, you are important to me, and I value you.' Sawubona symbolizes the importance of directing our attention to another person and reminds us to understand others without prejudice. BSU students developed the criteria for awarding this scholarship and the SRJC Foundation committed to raising funds to establish the new endowed scholarship which will exist in perpetuity to support Black students at SRJC.

Upon learning about this new scholarship, State Senator and SRJC alumnus Mike McGuire committed to donating the proceeds from his annual chili feed fundraiser on Sunday, August 16th to launch the new scholarship. The SRJC Foundation matched donations from Senator McGuire’s event up to $30,000. The Foundation is thrilled to announce that more than $60,000 has been raised from Senator McGuire’s efforts and the SRJC Foundation match, including a very generous donation from Redwood Credit Union. 

This scholarship will change the lives of Black SRJC students in our community for generations to come.