About Puente

Mission

The mission of the Puente Program is to increase the number of educationally underserved students who plan to transfer to four-year colleges and universities, earn degrees and return to the community as leaders and mentors to future generations. Puente is open to all students.

Puente Project History

Puente was founded in 1981 at Chabot College in Hayward by Patricia McGrath and Felix Galaviz. The program mission was to increase the number of Mexican American/Latino students transferring to four-year colleges and universities. Since then, Puente has expanded to 56 community college sites and 59 programs. As an outgrowth of its success as a community college program, Puente piloted a high school version of its program in 1993 that is now operational in 36 high school sites throughout California.

Gavilan became a Puente Project site in 1987 and has proven to be successful over the years. The program serves all three communities, Gilroy, Hollister, and Morgan Hill.