Proposed changes to the federal Pell Grant program are raising alarms across Kern County, where many students depend on this critical source of financial aid to pursue higher education. Gabriel Adame, President and CEO of the Youth 2 Leaders Educational Foundation (Y2LEF), stated that the cuts could severely limit access for low-income and first-generation students throughout the Central Valley.

“For the last 20 years, our foundation has worked to support low-income, underrepresented youth,” said Adame. “We started off distributing scholarships, but we saw that students needed much more than a one-time check—they needed long-term support with college access, readiness, and persistence.”

One of those students is Marisol, a 20-year-old at Bakersfield College who works nearly 30 hours a week to support her family. Her mom works overnight shifts as a home health aide, and Marisol helps cover rent and groceries while also attending school full-time. She asked that her last name not be used to protect her privacy.

“The Pell Grant is the only reason I’m still in school,” she said. “I already struggle to balance work, classes, and helping out at home. Now they want me to take 15 units just to keep the grant? I don’t know how I’m supposed to do that.”

Stories like Marisol’s are common among the students Y2LEF serves, many of whom live in rural parts of Kern County and come from families unfamiliar with navigating the college and financial aid systems.

“They’re already behind the eight ball,” he said. “They don’t always know how to fill out a FAFSA, how to apply to college, or how to plan for long-term success. Our job is to help guide them, but these new changes are making it harder for everyone.”

Under the Trump Administration’s proposed changes, the maximum Pell Grant award would be limited to students enrolled in 15 units or more. Adame, a former Pell Grant recipient himself, said the new rule fails to account for the lived reality of many students, especially those who are working, raising families, or returning to school later in life.

“When I was at CSUB, I took 16 units, and that was very difficult,” Adame said. “For students that are needing to work and go to school, adding those additional units is more than a full-time schedule. That’s going to significantly impact them.”

Marisol said she’s already at her limit. “I usually take 12 units, and even that pushes me to the edge,” she said. “If I try to take 15, I’d have to cut back on work—but then I can’t pay my bills. I’m trying to break the cycle in my family, but it feels like they’re stacking the deck against us.”

Adame warned that the long-term consequences of the Pell Grant restrictions could be devastating. Students who can’t afford full-time enrollment may be forced to drop out, take on more debt, or extend their time in school—if they’re able to finish at all.

“What might’ve taken two or three years to complete could now take double that,” he said. “For some, it might mean they never finish. And that’s a tragedy, because these are the students who benefit the most from higher education.”

He also emphasized that this isn’t just a financial issue, it’s an equity issue.

“This will widen the gap of access to higher education,” said Adame. “Those who are affected are low-income students, students of color, and adult learners. A lot of the families we work with are not able to send their student to a university or private school right out of high school. The students have to work, they have to get scholarships, and they have to rely on financial aid. This is gonna be a huge equity issue.”

Marisol added that the policymakers behind these changes seem out of touch with what working-class students actually experience.

“They don’t get it,” she said. “They think we’re lazy or not trying hard enough. But I’m doing everything I can. It just feels like they’re making it harder on purpose.”

Despite the challenges ahead, Adame said Y2LEF remains committed to supporting as many students as possible. The organization continues to provide scholarships, host financial aid workshops, and coordinate regional outreach across Kern, Inyo, and Mono counties.

“Even with everything going on at the federal level, we’re standing strong with our families,” he said. “We want them to know we’re still here, and we’re not going anywhere. If you need help, reach out. We’re ready.”