South Seattle College will celebrate their 10th incoming class of 13th Year Promise Scholarship students on Thursday, Sept. 14, with Seattle City Councilmember Lorena González giving the keynote address.

The 13th Year Promise Scholarship, offered at South since 2008, guarantees one year of tuition-free college to all graduating seniors from Cleveland, Rainier Beach and Chief Sealth International high schools (and will be expanding to West Seattle High School starting with their Class of 2018). The program is funded by donations to the South Seattle College Foundation along with support from the City of Seattle.

The largest incoming class since the program’s inception, 150 students will be finishing up their three-day Summer Bridge Orientation on Sept. 14. The orientation prepares them for the transition from high school to college with workshops on success strategies and presentations from student services departments.