![\"Mission](\"https:\/\/missionvalleynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bening.jpg\")
<\/a>Bening, a four-time Academy Award nominee, is best known for her starring roles in films such as \u201cBeing Julia,\u201d \u201cThe American Presi\u00addent,\u201d and \u201cAmerican Beauty.\u201d A San Diego native, Bening, says her time as a drama student at Mesa College helped prepare her for a highly successful acting career.<\/p>\n
SDCCD Chancellor Constance M. Carroll said the district is thrilled to have Bening, a San Diego Promise donor, headline its Sept. 20 gala. Carroll said the event is part of an expanded public-private investment in the San Diego Promise, which will now fund the first two years of enrollment fees for all full-time students who are recent high school graduates.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe San Diego Community College District is making a commitment to thousands of first-time students to fund two years of college if they commit to taking a full load and completing their education in two years,\u201d Carroll said in a press release. \u201cTo deliver on this promise the district is asking the community\u2019s support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carroll said that for 2018-19, the San Diego Community College District is expected to get an influx of state funding, which will fund the first year of the program for new students. Philanthropic support, however, is needed to fund enrollment fees and book grants for each student\u2019s second year.<\/p>\n
Launched as a pilot program in 2016 with 186 students, the San Diego Promise enrolled more than 700 students at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges this past year. During the upcoming 2018-19 academic year, SDCCD expects to add several thousand new full-time students to the program, which is intended to ensure that no deserving local students are denied the opportunity to earn a college education due to lack of resources.<\/p>\n
Presenting sponsors of the event include Roger Frey and Seidler Equity Partners. For sponsorship and ticket information, visit sdccd.edu\/promise\/gala<\/a>.<\/p>\n San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) proposed two new programs to the California Public Utilities Commission, which aim to build new electric vehicle chargers in public spaces around the city. One pilot aims to bring additional chargers to local parks and beaches; the other focuses on schools and educational institutions, including K-12 campuses, vocational schools, community colleges and universities.<\/p>\n The goal of this new project is to reduce local EV owners\u2019 sense of \u201crange anxiety\u201d \u2014 the concern that your car battery will run out of power before reaching your destination or an available charging station \u2014 and to make it easier for drivers to switch to electric transportation.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goal is to remove barriers for our customers when choosing an electric vehicle and incorporate charging into everyday life,\u201d SDG&E Chief Operating Officer Caroline Winn said.<\/p>\n \u201cImagine the convenience of having your car recharged while you enjoy a hike in a park, take a walk on the beach, or watch your children\u2019s athletic event at their school,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n The programs would prioritize placing chargers in communities that statistically suffer from high levels of air pollution. The American Lung Association rated San Diego\u2019s air quality as sixth worst in the nation and gave the region an F for number of high ozone days annually.<\/p>\nSDG&E proposes more EV charging stations<\/h3>\n