(San Antonio, TX, May 16, 2006) - The San Antonio College Women's Center & Adult Re-Entry Program recently received a 2006 Model Program Award from the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC), a leading national organization that champions women and maximizes their potential. The award highlights the accomplishments of colleges that support equity for women and work in the spirit of AAWCC.

The SAC Women's Center was judged on 1) essential features of the program; 2) the program's mission, goals and objectives; 3) services and scope of program; 4) impact on the women it serves; and 5) the program uniqueness and potential for being replicated. The award was presented at the AAWCC Awards Breakfast held in April during the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Convention in Long Beach, CA.  Additionally, the Center will be featured in the AAWCC publication, Quarterly, and on its website - www.aims.edu/aawcc/.

“We are excited to receive this prestigious award, especially at this time when we are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Women's Center at San Antonio College,” said Dr. Helen Vera, coordinator of SAC Women's Center and Adult Re-Entry Program.  “Our program changes lives.  Women come to us not realizing their own potential and are soon empowered by learning to acknowledge their own strengths and capabilities.”

With a menu of services that evolves to maintain student retention, comprehensive programs of the SAC Women's Center enhance abilities and self-esteem, and ultimately become a catalyst for transformation and family strengthening.  Delivered in a one-stop approach, services include, but are not limited to:

- Academic, crisis and career counseling;
- Financial aid advisement;
- Supportive services such as textbook, transportation and clothing assistance;
-  Parenting support and community resource referrals; and
-  Leadership and workforce development programs.

Unique to the SAC Women's Center are the on-campus transition services offered to a population that is often ignored (i.e., those deemed not “college-ready” due to poor academic preparation, lack of a high school diploma and/or low-income situations).  At many higher education institutions, the students are referred off-campus for GED preparation or other services and told to return following completion.  Alternately, the SAC Women’s Center provides these services to establish a bond, and encourage students to continue with college after the completion of preparation services.   Activities also educate the community on women's needs and issues, and provide opportunities for community involvement - students may participate in the WINS Leadership program, or in a variety of training classes (including computer-based skills upgrade in order to re-enter school and/or the work force).  

Additionally, the Center offers the city's only Women Empowerment “WE” Conference to provide vital resources to women who often have limited access to education.  (The 2006 WE Conference will be held Tuesday, May 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in McAllister Auditorium at SAC.)

In addition to on-campus programs, the SAC Women's Center maintains an extensive network of community contacts and partnerships to assist with outreach efforts, programming and referrals. Contact with financial literacy classes, professional clothing banks and external funding sources also help to maximize and stretch resources.  And as testimony to the college’s commitment to under-served populations, SAC raised funds for and maintains a scholarship endowment specifically for women - the Ann Richards Endowed Scholarship for Women.   

For more information, contact the SAC Women's Center and Adult Re-Entry Program at (210) 733-2299.