Jun 3, 2020

College of the Mainland is pleased to announce $40,000 in donations for Hitchcock students to participate in the college’s Opening Doors Promise Scholarship program. Generously funded by the Hitchcock Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Associated Credit Union of Texas and the Hitchcock ISD Education Foundation, these donations will allow COM to expand the scholarship program to 2020 high school graduates of Hitchcock schools. Through the scholarship, every qualifying student will be able to attend COM full time with all tuition and fees covered for Fall 2020.

“What a great opportunity for the Hitchcock EDC to partner with College of the Mainland and invest in our most valued resources, our recent graduates,” said Hitchcock EDC President and Associated Credit Union of Texas President/CEO Jack Click. “Providing access to no-cost college education is a real game changing opportunity for our students.”

The Opening Doors Promise Scholarship, which first launched in March, highlights the college’s ongoing commitment to provide accessible education to students in its surrounding community. This phase of the program will provide a "last-dollar scholarship" for any Class of 2020 student of a Hitchcock high school by offering funding to fill the gap for the remaining tuition and fees after grants or scholarships have been applied. Through the program, students can earn an associate degree or complete a workforce training certificate program with no tuition or fees in Fall 2020. 

“With this investment in Hitchcock students, the conversation between parents and their children will change,” said COM President Warren Nichols. “Now that discussion will be about what career choices their child can pursue at College of the Mainland, not about whether they can afford to go to college at all.” 

Seniors of any Hitchcock high school (GED, public, private, home or charter schools) graduating in the Class of 2020 are eligible for the Opening Doors Promise Scholarship. There is no income or high school GPA requirement.

“The Hitchcock EDC teaming up with both the Hitchcock ISD Education Foundation and Associated Credit Union of Texas to provide free tuition and fees for 2020 graduates is a win–win situation,” said Click. “Other local entities will be joining those donors in making the opportunity for a college education a tangible reality.”

To become an Opening Doors Promise Scholar, graduating Hitchcock seniors must complete two simple steps by the designated deadline dates below:

  • STEP 1 – July 17, 2020: Apply for admission through www.applytexas.org and choose “College of the Mainland.”
  • STEP 2 – July 31, 2020: Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov and list “College of the Mainland” or enter code 007096.

To learn more about the Opening Doors Promise Scholarship at College of the Mainland, visit www.com.edu/promise or call (409) 933-8508.