Finish Line Grant helps new mom pursue fulfilling career program

When new mom and returning student Corina Rios learned she was eligible to receive the Finish Line Grant, she felt a sense of relief.

"I did not qualify for many other grants, so I was very grateful knowing that I could start my program without having to pay so much out of pocket," Rios said.

The Finish Line Grant at San Jacinto College — also known as the Texas Reskilling Grant — was made possible by the Governor's Emergency Educational Relief Fund. This fund targets students who have previously stopped out of any undergraduate institution, as well as displaced Texas workers who are looking to reskill and re-enter the workforce.

Rios previously attended another institution straight out of high school but eventually realized it was not a good fit for her. After putting educational plans on hold for many years and working in jobs that did not feel like a career, Rios was ready for a change.

"Now that I have a 10-month-old daughter, I want to be able to provide for her and have more stability," Rios said. "I found the [Finish Line] flyer on the San Jacinto College website, so I contacted the program for more information and to see if I was eligible."

Thanks to the Finish Line Grant, Rios starts the medical billing and coding program at San Jac in summer 2021.

The Finish Line Grant includes 11 credit and two non-credit programs, covering tuition for up to three semesters ($2,500 max). To learn more about scholarships and grants at San Jac, visit sanjac.edu/grants.