FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From Grassroots to #1: PPSC’s Single Stop Transforms Student Support
Colorado Springs, CO– Wednesday, April 23, 2025— What began as a grassroots effort in 2021 has grown into one of the most impactful student support programs at Pikes Peak State College. Single Stop, a program designed to connect students with essential resources like scholarships, financial aid, tutoring, and food assistance, is now a permanent part of PPSC’s student services. For the past four years, PPSC’s Single Stop program has been ranked as the number one Single Stop in the nation for total drawdown dollars and ranked number one for total drawdown dollars and number of students screened in the state of Colorado.
Since its launch, Single Stop has seen exponential growth. Since its inception in 2021, PPSC’s Single Stop has connected students with over $9.5 million dollars in benefits and services. According to the 2023-2024 academic year report, the program provided support to 753 individual students through Basic Needs Scholarships, academic support, and referrals for housing, utility assistance, and mental health services.
Single Stop was built from passion and necessity, led by Kandy Ruiz, Director of Single Stop, who was a first-generation college student herself who understands firsthand the challenges of food insecurity. She understands the pressures of providing for a family while also trying to attain an education. Earning a degree or certificate creates economic stability and can even break the cycles of generational poverty but often, the external pressures of affording basic needs like rent, utilities and childcare force students to stop working toward their academic goals. Her work has built Single Stop into a vital program that helps students navigate financial struggles, access emergency aid, and connect with both on-campus and community-based support.
“It is our duty to help,” says Ruiz. “No student should have to choose between their education and their basic needs. We provide resources and strive to ensure that students experience a sense of recognition, support, and empowerment.” Kandy’s leadership is recognized beyond campus, earning her a place on Southern Colorado Business Digest’s 2025 “40 Under 40” list and a 2025 nomination for the Mayor’s Young Leaders Award.
The college has adopted Single Stop as a permanent, core student service, supported by ongoing contributions from community partners such as the Colorado Springs Health Foundation, Canvas Community Credit Union, Care and Share and other local businesses and community members. Single Stop has become an essential part of PPSC’s commitment to student success and equity. By providing resources that remove obstacles to education, the program is making a lasting impact on the lives of students and their families. When students are able to stay in school and earn degrees and certificates that fill our workforce with skilled workers, the whole community benefits.
For more information, visit PikesPeak.edu/SingleStop.
About Pikes Peak State College (PPSC):
Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Pikes Peak offers associate degrees, certificates in career and technical fields and a growing number of bachelors’ degrees. With four campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers, and hundreds of online classes, PPSC provides access to a quality, affordable and flexible education to more than 17,000 students annually with both credit and non-credit classes.