Thousands of Auburn’s high school seniors will receive their diplomas as their families and loved ones look on with pride this weekend. Some of these students and their families had dreams of going to college, but financially cannot afford it. So instead, they will face the economy’s uncertain job market.

These young adults want to go to college, and their parents want them to go to college, in the hopes of a better life for their children. Unfortunately, though, the biggest barrier to students and their families realizing their college dreams is money.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Our state has a unique program called College Bound Scholarship, which covers the cost of tuition at Washington’s public colleges and universities for economically disadvantaged students. Low-income seventh- and eighth-graders who sign a pledge by the end of eighth grade to graduate from high school, demonstrate good citizenship, and seek admission to college or university are eligible.

Only 46 percent of eligible students in Auburn are signed up for the College Bound Scholarship. We must do all we can to increase that number and provide all of our students with the opportunities that advanced education provides.

Not too long ago a college degree was viewed as the ticket to a good job or a way to pull in a bigger paycheck. Today, it is a necessity for the vast majority of jobs in our state.

In Washington state, jobs require even higher levels of education due to the thriving technology industry that drives our economy. Our students should be filling those jobs, but all too many don’t have the education necessary.

This year the Community Center for Education Results Road Map Project, aimed at driving major improvements in education results in South Seattle and South King County, and the College Success Foundation have set a goal of signing up 100 percent of all eligible eighth-graders for College Bound Scholarship.

School districts, teachers, community members and many others are working toward reaching the goal by the June 30 deadline.

We need your help getting the remaining 54 percent of eligible Auburn students signed up. All of Auburn’s middle schools – Olympic, Cascade, Rainier and Mt. Baker – still have eligible eighth-graders who are not signed up for this amazing program.

You can help by telling every parent, family member, grandparent or guardian of an eighth-grader about the College Bound Scholarship and encourage these students to sign up before June 30. Together we can help make their dreams a reality.

Students can apply online at: www.hecb.wa.gov/collegebound.

Reach Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis at 253-931-3041 or plewis@auburnwa.gov