Determined Student Works Towards his Degree and a Better Life for Family with Help from AlamoPROMISE

Shaun Phillips is determined to provide a better life for his two young children and knows that the key to reaching this goal is through his pursuit of higher education.

Dedicated to his studies, he began taking college courses during his sophomore year of High School at CAST Stem. While in high school, he found out that he qualified for AlamoPROMISE, a last dollar scholarship that covers 100% of tuition and fees for eligible students. Excited to attend college without the financial strain, Shaun enrolled in the Advanced Manufacturing program at Palo Alto College (PAC).

As a single parent, Shaun has faced significant challenges balancing fatherhood with his studies. His youngest child was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at around four months old and is now in remission. Despite these obstacles, maintains a positive outlook on his future and continues to pursue his goals, earning a 3.08 GPA.

Shaun is employed part-time at Toyota Manufacturing and at H-E-B as an on-call employee. Although he is busy with life’s responsibilities, he has able to continue his education with the support provided by the Alamo Colleges District (ACD). As a parenting student, he has been connected with resources such as medical services, public benefit programs, academic support, and even childcare services. Shaun’s daughter is enrolled in daycare at the Ray Ellison Family Center (REFC), where he drops her off two days a week so he can attend class.

Thanks to the AlamoPROMISE program, he is on track to complete his associate’s degree in May 2025, bringing him one step close to providing a better future for his family.