Edsel Chacon and Mario Rodriguez, both asylum seekers from Venezuela, have lived in South Carolina for three years. They graduated from Hanahan High School, worked, paid taxes, and now attend Trident Technical College. Despite calling South Carolina home, they are charged out-of-state tuition fees, which is nearly three times higher than in-state residents. This is because they don't have full American citizenship, making it hard to prove their residency.
Schools require a lot of documents to verify residency, including high school transcripts, driver's licenses, and employment proof. Edsel and Mario have provided all these, but it's still not enough. Their temporary protected status, driver's licenses, tax documents, and employment recommendations aren't good enough to qualify for in-state tuition.
Hanahan High School multilingual teacher Dr. Dorothy Wooden has seen how determined these students are. She believes their experiences have made them more driven and appreciative of opportunities in the U.S. Gerrick Hampton from the Student Affairs South Carolina Commission on Higher Education explains that the regulations are in place to ensure South Carolina residents get the benefits they're entitled to.
Trident Tech follows these regulations and won't change their decision on tuition classification for individual cases. Dr. Wooden hopes these rules will be revisited, as situations and times change. Edsel and Mario plan to continue their education, despite the higher costs. They're making the best of their situation, focusing on their goals, and not taking their opportunities for granted.
Hanahan High School is planning to open an international center to help students and their families navigate the opportunities available to them. Edsel is even creating a cartoon about his journey to the U.S.
