High school graduates from 2021 to 2023, as well as GED recipients, are invited to experience life as a college student this summer at Central Arizona College.

Registration is now open for Central Arizona College’s 2023 Summer Bridge program, according to a press release.

Summer Bridge is a free, five-day residential orientation to college program. It takes place from Aug. 6-10 at the CAC Signal Peak Campus, 8470 N. Overfield Road in Coolidge.

Attendees will stay in the CAC residence halls. They also will participate in activities and workshops to assist them in becoming college students, the release added.

Summer Bridge is designed for incoming freshman students who have recently graduated from high school or obtained their GED, and plan to attend Central Arizona College’s Signal Peak Campus in fall 2023.

To be eligible to apply, students must be a first-generation college student, have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, have a documented disability and/or intend to transfer to a four-year university to qualify for federal TRIO services. Students must meet a minimum of one of the listed requirements.

For nearly 20 years the Summer Bridge at Central Arizona College has provided students with college orientation, according to the release.

The TRIO Summer Bridge program is the only free, all-inclusive residential college orientation program held in Arizona.

The release states that other benefits of being enrolled as a TRIO student include:

• Individualized advising and academic and social support.
• Free tutoring, copying, faxing, and the use of laptops in the TRIO office.
• Connect to campus staff, faculty and students.
• Developing personal, academic, and social skills necessary for college.
• Access to peer mentors.
• Individualized academic advising throughout student’s time at Central Arizona College.

Students interested in Summer Bridge can log on to centralaz.edu/summer-bridge to complete the application online. Certain eligibility requirements are based on federal guidelines.

For more information on TRIO and the Summer Bridge program, call 520-494-5007, email trio@centralaz.edu. 

TRIO Summer Bridge is jointly funded by Central Arizona College and the U.S. Department of Education.