Behind every completed financial aid application is a community working together to support a student's opportunity to get one step closer to college.

The Port of Long Beach in Southern California demonstrates its deep commitment to educational access by partnering with the USC College Advising Corps program to support one of the most significant barriers students face in pursuing higher education: financial aid completion. Through this partnership, the Port is not only investing in programs, but it is also investing directly in students, families and the futures of our communities.

The Port of Long Beach has long prioritized initiatives that expand learning and training opportunities for students and educators. Its collaboration with and support of the USC College Advising Corps reflects a shared belief that access to higher education should be equitable, attainable and well-supported. By funding and uplifting financial aid outreach efforts, the Port is helping ensure that students have the guidance they need to navigate complex financial aid processes with confidence.

“We are proud to partner with the USC College Advising Corps to assist students and their families with navigating the complicated process of completing financial aid forms,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba. “The Port of Long Beach has a long history of shaping the next generation of leaders by investing in their professional future as we build the skilled workforce of the future.”

This year, the Port’s generous support made a meaningful impact across several high-need high schools, including Compton, Compton Early College, Dominguez, Centennial, Paramount, Odyssey STEM Academy, Jordan, and Cabrillo High Schools. These campuses serve communities where financial aid access can be transformational, and the Port’s partnership allowed our college advisors to expand both the scale and accessibility of their outreach.

With this support, our college advisers created welcoming, family-centered spaces designed to meet the needs of busy households. Recognizing that many families balance work and other responsibilities, advisers hosted Saturday and late-evening sessions to ensure greater accessibility. Meals were provided so families could focus on completing their applications in a comfortable and supportive environment. This thoughtful flexibility allowed more students and families to attend, ask questions, and receive individualized assistance in completing their FAFSA or California Dream Act applications.

The results were powerful. Hundreds of students and families received direct support in submitting their financial aid applications, many for the first time. Advisers guided families step-by-step through required documentation, answered detailed questions about eligibility and next steps, and helped demystify a process that can often feel overwhelming. For many families, these events provided not just technical assistance but reassurance and encouragement during a critical milestone in their college journey.

The Port of Long Beach’s investment has strengthened the Pullias Center’s ability to deliver high-impact programming at scale with the USC College Advising Corps.  More importantly, it has amplified our shared mission of expanding college access for students who might otherwise encounter barriers to higher education funding. Financial aid is often the bridge between aspiration and enrollment, and through this collaboration, that bridge has become stronger and more accessible for the communities we serve.

We are deeply grateful to the Port of Long Beach for its continued partnership and belief in our students. Together, we are not only increasing financial aid completion rates, but we are also empowering students to move forward with clarity, confidence and the knowledge that their community stands behind them.

Because when institutions come together with purpose, we don’t just power programs, we power possibility.

About the Port of Long Beach
The Port of Long Beach is the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in innovative goods movement, safety, environmental stewardship and sustainability. Voted “Best West Coast Seaport” by industry peers, the Port handles trade valued at $300 billion annually, supports 2.7 million jobs across the nation, more than 1.14 million in California, and more than 543,000 in Los Angeles and Orange counties.