Thirteen high school seniors were recognized on Tuesday evening for completing the Bridges Certificate Program, a partnership between Heart of LA and the WLCAC Family Source Center. The ceremony celebrated not only the completion of the program but also the students’ academic and personal growth throughout the year — and the exciting road ahead as they head off to college this fall.
The Bridges Program provides support and resources to help students navigate the college application process, financial aid, and personal development — and for many, it made a lasting impact.
Joey Peralta, 18, will be attending Cal State Chico in the fall.
“I really enjoyed this program. I got a lot of support from it,” Peralta said. “Ms. Adriana and Ms. Azalia — they were really nice to me. They were always checking up on me about scholarships, applications, FAFSA. I was able to get that done because of them.”
Peralta added that the program offered more than just academics.
“There were art classes, and not everything was school-based — but it was always fun,” he said.
Joselin Garcia, 17, is also headed to Cal State Chico and shared similar gratitude.
“It is scary, but I do feel like I have all the resources that I need and I do feel prepared,” she said.
She credited the Bridges staff for their support:
“Just the personality of Ms. Azalia and Ms. Adriana — they’re very nice and caring. They listen to you very attentively, and that really helped.”
When asked if he would recommend the program to others, Peralta didn’t hesitate:
“A couple hours after school — for me, yeah, it was a lot of fun. So I would recommend it to anyone to get into it.”
As these students take their next big steps toward higher education — some staying in-state, others venturing across the country — they carry with them not just college acceptance letters, but confidence, community, and the tools to succeed.
