Napa Valley College Superintendent/President Commends If Given A Chance for Supporting Vulnerable Students

Napa, California—October 26, 2025— Dr. Torence Powell is the Superintendent/President of Napa Valley College. But as a junior in high school, he would have been a prime candidate for If Given A Chance (IGAC), a local nonprofit that provides Napa County students who have faced extraordinary adversity with holistic support from their senior year of high school through post-secondary education.

At a recent event to thank IGAC’s top supporters at Turnbull Wine Cellars in St. Helena, Dr. Powell said the type of student IGAC works with “is me.”

“In the first semester of my junior year of high school, I faced some extraordinary challenges,” he told the gathering. “I was dealing with the loss of multiple friends to gang violence, was suffering from what later was diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder and had failed an entire semester’s worth of classes. I was on the verge of dropping out of high school and could not envision a path of success that would help me transcend the struggles of my current challenges.”

Fortunately, Dr. Powell did find assistance from a high school counselor who helped him chart a path of success. This path led him to community college and ultimately to earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees and an Ed.D. in educational leadership from UC Davis. His success despite difficult challenges mirrors that of many of the 400 students IGAC has assisted for over 30 years.

“If Given a Chance has taken the same care, attention, and empathy that helped me achieve success, and replicated it on scale throughout Napa County that is quite remarkable,” Powell noted. “This organization transforms the lives of students who, through care, attention and empathy, are building the sense of self-efficacy and confidence necessary to dream bigger dreams and pursue goals that might have felt impossible. And for that, I commend If Given A Chance.”

Among those listening to Dr. Powell’s inspirational comments were four of the 10 Napa Valley high school rising seniors selected this year by IGAC. These 10 students will participate in monthly workshops and receive one-on-one coaching throughout their senior year to help them prepare for and enter college or professional/technical school. Once they are pursuing their post-secondary education, these students will continue to receive financial support from IGAC and regular help with budgeting, career development, and mental health through IGAC’s partnership with Students Rising Above.

For information on donating to IGAC to help these students fulfill their dreams, go to https://www.ifgivenachance/giving.

About If Given A Chance

If Given a Chance empowers Napa County high school students who have faced extraordinary adversity by providing them with holistic support--including college and career counseling, mentorship, mental health support and financial assistance--during their senior year and throughout college or trade programs as they pursue better futures for themselves. It helps students regain their sense of self-worth, emotional balance, and independent living skills through mentoring, life-skills training, mental health support, and financial assistance. IGAC provides ongoing support as these students navigate the challenges of obtaining a college degree or completing a trade certification program so they can achieve job security, experience increased quality of life, and become contributing members of their community.

For more information, contact: Marisa Binder, executive director, at (415) 412-8431 or email info@ifgivenachance.org.