About

The College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) North High School alumnus Thomas Ray Garcia.

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Based in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, CSLAP taught college access classes focused on every aspect of the college admissions process. From college discovery to college graduation, our 27 modules are designed to support students from all backgrounds as they apply, transition, and graduate from college. Our programming has been developed for over 12 years, and our lessons are aligned with the high school English TEKS (Texas Essential Skills and Knowledge). We taught our classes during the instructional day at partner schools, after school, and over the summer.

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CSLAP also provided personalized college coaching and awarded scholarships to high school students. Moreover, we partnered with community organizations to work with student populations traditionally underserved in the college admissions process. In doing so, we aimed to increase college enrollment rates throughout our region and to form a support system for students going to and through college.

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In 2013, CSLAP was founded as a volunteer-led summer institute for rising seniors at PSJA ISD. For 5 years, we hosted workshops on the college application process, mentored students through year-round communication, and provided college transition support for graduating seniors. Our curriculum became PSJA's University Scholars Enrichment Course for 9th-12th graders. In 2019, we incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 

 

Since our inception, we have directly impacted over 2,000 students. In summer 2025, after 12 years of operations, CSLAP concluded its work with high school students. As we wind down our operations, we continue to work with our students throughout their college and career journeys.

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