QCC President Luis Pedraja on Hispanic Heritage Month and Free College Support

By-Hank Stolz

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WORCESTER, MA–Dr. Luis Pedraja, President of Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), discussed the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month, highlighting the diversity within the Latino community and its contributions. “When I was in school, you didn’t learn much about the contributions that Latinos had to the American culture and to our own history as well as successes. And in some ways that kind of made me feel like we weren’t being really recognized, that we weren’t fully a part of this country when we have been a part since the inception of the United States.” Pedraja pointed out that QCC is now a “minority-majority” institution, with Latino students making up 27% of the population, reflecting the diversity of Worcester. He said that state programs offering free tuition and fees were helping empower diverse and underrepresented community members to pursue higher education. He also raised a significant concern about the state planning to cut a $200 stipend for students, which was part of the free college promise, and stressed that this amount was critical for students struggling with expenses like books, rent, and food.