Former Scholar to New Director

Photo by Mōhailani Peloso

A Warm Welcome to CIP’s Newest Leadership!

On the first floor of the McCaffrey Center lies the entrance to a unique organization here at Pacific: the Community Involvement Program (CIP). CIP is a need-based scholarship program designed for first-generation college students. Each year, new members are selected through a rigorous application process, forming a new cohort within the program. While welcoming fresh faces is always a highlight, this year brings an extra reason to celebrate: the appointment of a new CIP director, Clarence Henderson.

For some more background information, CIP was established in 1969 and has since then seen over 2,000 students graduate. The program has an impressive retention rate with 87% of first-year students graduating and 90% for transfers. It is no wonder that this program has reaped such great success because of dedicated leadership and bright students that have kept it running for over 50 years.

The Community Involvement Program is more than a scholarship, it is a commitment to the Stockton community and empowering the youth to achieve academic excellence. CIP is a family — its scholars bond together and are grateful for the opportunity that the program has blessed them with.

A prime example of this lifelong commitment is no more present than in the CIP’s director. Henderson, although very busy with having a booked calendar of meetings, was fortunately able to dedicate time out of his day for a sit-down interview with The Pacifican. 

His dream of going to Pacific started when he was at Fremont Middle School where he developed an interest in engineering. However, Henderson did not have the financial means to fund his tuition since he came from a low-income family. He would fortunately have luck by discovering CIP as a way to finance his education. 

“I remember [my counselor] coming up to me in the hallway at Stagg High and saying, hey, I found a way you might be able to afford UOP,” Henderson said. He had accumulated community service experience and was able to emphasize that during his interview. But other than that, he also stressed the importance of education and the impact it has to open more opportunities and be used as a tool for a better life. 

Like many CIP scholars that go through the final round of interviews, Henderson was nervous and anxiously waited to hear back on his status. But on one fateful day, he got a late letter in the mail that would change the course of his life. “I was just ecstatic and was like, God heard my prayers, right?” he said, thinking back on his reaction upon reading the letter. 

Henderson came to Pacific as a proud Tiger but still faced hardship due to being a first-generation college student from a marginalized background. He also faced changes to his major, going from engineering, to computer science, and finally settling on sports management — which he would graduate with a degree in. 

However, it was CIP that gave him the support he needed. It is not just the generous financial aid, but the supportive environment that the program prides itself on. “CIP gave me the guidance to get me to the finish line and helped me during tough times,” Henderson said as he reflected on his time as being a scholar.

Even after Henderson finished his undergraduate years at Pacific, he wanted to return to CIP and continue to be an active member in the community. He got the chance to return to CIP in 2020 where he became a program specialist. There he climbed the ranks and earned recognition that got him to the position he has today. “I was just happy to be back with the program that blessed me with an incredible opportunity. Being the director now is almost unbelievable for me,” Henderson remarked. 

Throughout the interview, Henderson consistently mentioned the pride he has for the program and the positive impact it has on students and to the Stockton community. One of CIP’s signature events is the BLOCK (Building Leaders Overcoming Challenges with Knowledge) Conference. This annual event is held during Pacific’s Fall Break where students from the community participate in workshops to foster academic and personal excellence, leadership development, and inspire the youth to seek higher education. The conference also features a lineup of empowering keynote speakers.

Henderson hopes to expand the vision of the BLOCK conference and hold a second one during the spring semester. This is one of the goals he has as being director because to him, emphasizing leadership and empowerment in the community is more important than ever. 

Ultimately, what Henderson really wishes for CIP is that it continues to serve the community and goes on for as long as possible. “I would want CIP to be around another 50 years and my goal is to leave it better than I experienced or found it when I came in,” Henderson said in response to what he hopes for the future of the program.

The story of Henderson is one that many in the program can relate to. Many of the scholars in the program also come from low-income and marginalized backgrounds, and only have the opportunity to go to Pacific because of CIP. With a leader that has had firsthand experience and represents the members that reflect the program, CIP can rest assured that its future is bright.