When Hector Blanco Gavillan β18 β22MS first started thinking about college, he knew one thing for certain: he couldnβt afford to leave home.
βI didnβt apply to many schools because out-of-state or even dorm living just wasnβt an option for me,β says Blanco, a civil engineering alum. βI had to work, I had to stay close and I had to keep costs down.β
Blanco enrolled at Seminole State College in 2013. Like thousands of students before and after him, he discovered DirectConnect to ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ β a guaranteed admission pathway to the university for students who earn their associate degrees at partner state colleges. For Blanco, it was nothing short of a lifeline.
βDirectConnect to ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ gave me confidence,β he says. βI didnβt have to worry if my credits would transfer or if Iβd be accepted. I knew I had a guaranteed pathway, and that let me focus on finishing my degree while balancing school and work.β
A National Model with Proven Impact
This year marks the 20th anniversary of DirectConnect to ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½, which began in 2005 with four partner colleges and has since expanded into a nationally recognized model for student success. In Fall 2025, Indian River State College became the seventh partner to join the consortium, which now includes College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College and Valencia College.
The premise is simple but powerful: earn your associate degree at one of the seven state colleges and you are guaranteed admission to ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½. Along the way, students benefit from cost savings by attending a state college β about 25% on averageβas well as personalized guidance from the DirectConnect to ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ Success Team.
The impact is clear. Since its launch, more than 79,000 ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ degrees have been awarded to DirectConnect students. Each year, more than 5,000 more students take advantage of the program, improving access to higher education and fueling the regionβs workforce.
“Opportunity should be within reach. DirectConnect to ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ provides students a guided path, dedicated support and the momentum they need to thrive at ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½,β says Kim Hardy, assistant vice provost for ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ Connect.
Kristina Lavallee β13, a Valencia transfer who went on to build a thriving business with her husband, Kirby, puts it this way: βDirectConnect makes college possible for students who might not otherwise see it within reach. It takes away the unknowns.β
Many Students, One Path
The experiences of DirectConnect students are as varied as Central Florida itself. For Blanco Gavillan, the smaller class sizes at Seminole State provided the breathing room he needed to adjust to college life. For others, like Merritt Island, Florida, native Trevor Rigby β08, the program provided flexibility and options when his music career complicated his studies.
βI donβt know if I ever would have graduated without DirectConnect,β says Rigby, a music alum. βWith DirectConnect you can create a tangible plan. Itβs a map to see where youβre going so youβre not just wandering in the dark.β
For alumna Doris Vega Baez β09, DirectConnectβs affordability and smooth transfer process made the difference between stopping at an associate degree and moving on to a career at a global firm.
βWithout it, I might have just done a certificate here or there,β says Vega Baez, a management grad. βInstead, I have ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ on my resume and a career I love.β
A Promise for the Future
As the program celebrates 20 years, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ and its partners see the addition of Indian River State College as a sign of whatβs to come: expanding access and opportunity with transfer student success.
From first-generation students to working parents, from aspiring musicians to future business owners, DirectConnect to ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ has helped transform thousands of lives. And for students like Blanco, the message is simple.
βIf you think college is out of reach, DirectConnect shows you itβs not,β he says.
