Francisco, After-School Achievement Program

In 1994, Francisco and his family relocated from Reseda, California to Milwaukee. Following its relocation, Francisco’s family struggled making ends meet and was faced with the challenge of not knowing the available resources for low-income families in the area, specifically in education. Due to this lack of knowledge, Francisco’s parents struggled to find the right school for Francisco and his siblings. When they learned about UCC, they immediately enrolled Francisco and his sisters at Bruce-Guadalupe Community School (BGCS).

During his time at BGCS, Francisco participated in the After-School Achievement Program (ASAP), a program that helps students master their core school subjects by providing them with after-school tutoring. By participating in ASAP, Francisco was able to complete his homework and have a good understanding of the material that he was being taught.

While at BGCS, Francisco was also involved in the boxing program, which helped him learn discipline and how to hold himself accountable for the successful completion of his studies.

Even after graduating from BGCS and while attending Pius XI High School, Francisco continued to stay involved with UCC by keeping in contact with the pre-college department staff. With the help he received, Francisco was accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. From UWM, Francisco later graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics.

Today, Francisco resides in Milwaukee and is an accountant for Robert Half. Looking back at his life experiences, Francisco describes UCC as being “one of a kind.”

“UCC has enabled me to prosper in my education and has enforced the importance of giving back to the community,” Francisco said.