EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Parkland High School seniors got hands-on help taking their first steps toward college as representatives from the University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College visited campus to guide students through the enrollment process.

The event, “Operation College Bound”, brought college representatives to the school to help students register for classes, sign up for orientations, and get questions answered.

Students also had the chance to speak with leaders from both institutions to learn more about higher education opportunities.

“We want them to make sure they have a pathway to the next level of education, which is higher education, to provide them an opportunity to get to the middle class,” said William Serrata, EPCC president.

Parkland student Natalie Gonzalez said she plans to start at EPCC.

“I’m signing up for EPCC,” Gonzalez said. “After EPCC, I was planning on either going to UTEP or NMSU and finishing my major and also taking a business class so I could start my business after graduating.”

Operation College Bound has visited other schools across El Paso, including Pebble Hills High School and El Dorado High School.

University representatives said they plan to visit more schools in the borderland to provide El Paso students with the same resources.

RECOMMENDED: Socorro ISD hosts Operation College Bound event to help seniors enroll in college

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.