Celebrating 40 Years of Puente Project at El Camino College | ElCo Chats

In this episode of ElCo Chats, Puente Project counselors and co-coordinators Maribel Hernandez and Griselda Castro celebrate a major milestone: 40 years of Puente at El Camino College. Griselda and Maribel share their own journeys as first-generation college students and ultimately the counselors who now guide others along the same path. They talk about what makes Puente work: the cohort model, the integration of counseling and instruction, the mentors who show students what's possible, and the sense of familia that follows Puentistas long after they transfer. For more episodes of ElCo Chats, visit www.elcamino.edu/podcast. 00:00 Intro 07:30 Puente Celebrates 40 Years at El Camino 13:38 The "Familia" Experience 17:28 The Importance of Puente Counselors and Faculty 22:45 "One a Puentista, Always a Puentista" 28:08 Advice for Someone Thinking About Applying to El Camino