Puente Program

A National Model for Student Success: Investing in California's Workforce

Puente (Spanish for bridge) students enjoy an exciting and supportive learning experience while studying at Sierra College.

The Puente program is sponsored by the University of California, Office of the President (UCOP) and the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges. Puente (Spanish for bridge) has provided tens of thousands of California students with a vision of success and the support to make that vision a reality.

Our Mission

To increase the number of students who transfer and enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn their degrees, and return to the community as leaders and mentors of future generations.

Our Program

Puente students enjoy an exciting and supportive learning experience while studying at Sierra College. More information about this nationally recognized program can be found at The Puente Project.

Puente Club

Puente Program Brochure

Puente Interest Form

Classes

• Fall semester: English 1A and Personal Development 1
• Spring semester: English 1C and History 23

The content of the Puente classes and assignments focus primarily on topics about the social, cultural, historical and educational experiences of Latinos/as in the United States. 

Meet Your Professors

Adriana Lopez provides counseling services and helps students transition into the community college environment. She earned her Master of Science in Counseling and Student Personnel from Oklahoma State University. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Minor in Business, and Ethnic Studies Certificate from the University of San Francisco.

Lauren Velez is the English coordinator for the Puente program. She attended Sierra College as a student before earning both her BA and MA in English from CSU Sacramento. She has been teaching English at Sierra College since 2013.

Counseling

Work one-on-one with a counselor and an English professor to complete your academic goals.

Mentors

This is a great opportunity for students to begin networking with local professionals who can share career information and educational opportunities. 

Watch this Puentista and Mentors video.

Activities

Puente students take field trips to universities and attend off-campus cultural events.

Where have Sierra Puente students transferred to?

View a list of colleges and majors where Puente students have transferred to in the past few years.

Apply to the Puente Program

Complete the Puente Interest Form and submit to Adriana Lopez (alopez43@sierracollege.edu) or Lauren Velez (lvelez2@sierracollege.edu). Interest forms can also be mailed to: Sierra College, Counseling Department, 5100 Sierra College Blvd., Rocklin CA 95677.

Puente Interest Form

“Puente has made a huge impact on my life. It has been extremely supportive of my educational goals as well as my personal goals. Puente also has lots of available resources. With my major being Political Science, this program gives me so many avenues on how I can further my education and shown me that you can do anything that you set your mind to.”

—Juan Magallón