The Ventura County Community Foundation will award more than $820,000 in scholarships to local students at the 2011 Scholarship Awards Reception on June 2.
This year, the Community Foundation will give more than 290 scholarships to 265 students who will attend such universities as Stanford, UCLA, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Notre Dame, Brown, California Lutheran, Pepperdine and Cal State Channel Islands.
“These scholarships are made possible by the generosity of people who believe in investing in the future of Ventura County,” said Hugh Ralston, president and CEO of the Community Foundation.
“Most scholarships were established as permanent endowments at VCCF by donors who want to keep a loved one’s memory alive by making college a reality for a motivated young person,” Ralston said. “Thanks to our success in investing these funds for the long term, we are able to sustain these legacies through annual gifts to local students to help them follow their dreams.”
This year’s awards include two new memorial scholarships. The Stephen Devron Resnik Memorial Scholarship honors the late owner of the Somis Nut House. Since Resnik was an avid volleyball player, his family wanted to give first priority to a student-athlete participating in that sport.
Graduating language majors had the opportunity to apply for the inaugural Ronald Mack Adams Memorial Scholarship, established in the memory of the Oxnard School District teacher. Adams’ love of languages was sparked at Oxnard High in the late 1950s when he became that school’s first exchange student to Germany.
Students from throughout Ventura County had from November of last year until mid-January to apply for VCCF scholarships. Thanks to a new financial-aid screening tool on vccf.org, students could determine more reliably which awards they qualified for based on financial need.
The average college student graduating this year will have $27,000 in debt from education loans, according to a recent report on National Public Radio, Ralston noted.
“By awarding scholarships to qualified students, we hope to spare them some of the burden of taking on excessive student loan debt,” Ralston said, “and ensure they can get the education they hope for.”
Carlos Espinoza, a junior psychology major at the University of California, Davis, and recipient of a total of $27,000 over two years from VCCF scholarship funders, echoes Ralston’s words.
“I cannot thank them enough for investing in me, my education and in my dream of helping people, people like me who have dreams and are willing to go against the odds to obtain them,” said Espinoza, of Oxnard.
Since its founding in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation has awarded more than $7 million in scholarships and is the local leader in granting financial aid to Ventura County youth.
The scope of this annual undertaking would not be possible without dozens of unsung volunteers who have worked behind the scenes since the January application deadline, Ralston noted. A team of 16 processed the more than 2,600 applications, 19 screened the applications to make sure they complied with the guidelines set by donors. A committee of 29 volunteers reviewed and rated the almost 1,200 eligible applications, and made recommendations which were approved by the VCCF Board of Directors in early May.
VCCF is a family of charitable funds with combined assets of $108 million. Its mission is to promote and enable philanthropy to improve our community for good for ever, which it does through grantmaking, scholarships and leadership training programs through the Center for Nonprofit Leadership. VCCF has been certified in compliance with national standards by the Council on Foundations, the highest form of peer review in the United States. For more information, visit vccf.org or contact VCCF at (805) 988-0196.
Here are the 2011 Ventura County Community Foundation scholarship winners, listed by city of residence:
Camarillo
Leo M. Anaya, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Kevin Ardebili, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Jacquelin E. Arroyo, John Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($2,000), Jason A. Barresi, Roy A. Gustafson Memorial Scholarship ($3,000), Ian M. Carr, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Alison N. Cosgrove, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Geoffrey J. Douglas, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Jairo O. Gonzalez, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Rebecca Gregg, Bob Beltramo Memorial Scholarship for Athletic Sportsmanship ($500), Austin M. Hymes, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Sne S. Kanji, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Jessica M. Karch, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Aubrey S. Kaye, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Joann N. Kweon, SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Leslie D. Mendez, TEACh Scholarship ($700), Raquel Y. Montes, TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($7,500), Clifford J. Payne, Iris Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,500), Ventura County Medical Education ($3,500), Ryan Pettit, Bob Beltramo Memorial Scholarship for Athletic Sportsmanship ($500), Nicole E. Pompilio, Stephen Devron Resnik Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Samantha C. Prairie, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Christina S. Sheu, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Andy V. Truong, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Jennifer Zhao, Charles K. Ola I. Gose Scholarship ($1,000).
Fillmore
Mayra V. Amezcua, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Susana Amezcua, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Esmeralda N. Carrillo, Saticoy Lemon Association Employee Scholarship ($650), Corey R. Cole, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Mariela Contreras, VCCF Scholarship ($600), Linnea C. Fechtner, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Diana J. Gumber, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Chloe N. Keller, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Joseph M. Liu, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Arturo Luna, Adelante Scholarship ($1,000), Miguel A. Mendez, Gould Family Scholarship ($500) and Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Joel Orozco, Finch Family Scholarship ($4,000), Grace A. Simon, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Karissa M. Tarango, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Iris P. Villalobos, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Juan R. Villalobos, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Hayward Stephanie Murray, TEACh Scholarship ($2,300).
Moorpark
Robert C. Anzures, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Jonathan L. Blufer, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Jennifer N. Curtis, Jerry E. Lorenz Scholarship ($550), Ryan A. Fleming, Second Century Legacy Scholarship ($500), Alexandra R. Garcia, TEACh Scholarship ($1,800), Gabriela Jimenez, John Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($4,000), Kimberly T. Phan, TEACh Scholarship ($700), Yasmin R. Sallak, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000).
Newbury Park
Brittany L. Brown, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Derek I. Cook, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Ryan A. Cruz, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Brian C. Deutsch, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kala Jankowski, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), VCCF Scholarship ($1,000), Judy Miyara, TEACh Scholarship ($1,300), Ahna M. Neustadt, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Briane L. Seligman, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Danna M. Seligman, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Samantha L. Sheveland, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), TEACh Scholarship ($1,300), Kavya L. Singampalli, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Trey P. Weber, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Benjamin Y. Zhou, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000).
Oak Park
Jeffrey K. Zia, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000).
Oak View
Kathryn A. Barron, Gary W. Chism Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Jaclyn R. Stout, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500) and TEACh Scholarship ($2,300), Tyson N. Tilmont, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Stephanie K. Vanhorenbeeck, TEACh Scholarship ($2,300).
Ojai
Corey L. Hawkins, TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($2,500), Paola Lule, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Colin P. McMahon, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Rebecca L. Murphy, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Elena M. Owen, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Benjamin N.Umholtz, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Tristan A. Walczak, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Gina Wiley, Dennis S. Ford Memorial Scholarship ($1,000).
Oxnard
Jocelyn Arroyo, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Cristal Avila, TEACh Scholarship ($700), Danielle J. Bonucchi, Margaret A. Tompkins Oxnard Monday Club Scholarship ($800), Paul Lehmann Memorial Scholarship ($500), Alejandra P. Castillo, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Ruth Cheng, Paul Lehmann Memorial Scholarship ($500), Ian Cossman, Paul Lehmann Memorial Scholarship ($500), Leticia Cruz, Adelante Scholarship ($1,000), Destino Scholarship ($2,500), Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Kenneth Paul P. Dadacay, Iris Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,500), Kristian Phillip P. Dadacay, Salik Omar Shah Scholarship ($1,000), Vanessa N. Dominguez, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Dorian Edwards, Paul Lehmann Memorial Scholarship ($500), Carlos A. Espinoza, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Blanca E. Gonzalez, Armando Lourdes Lopez Scholarship ($500), Eileen M. Gutierrez, Iris Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,500), Kenneth Harary, Paul Lehmann Memorial Scholarship ($500), Kendra L. Heredia, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Raquel Hernandez, Adelante Scholarship ($1,000), Dustin R. Horton, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Tara M. Johnson, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Jesus Lira, Adelante Scholarship ($1,000), Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Lloyd Armand G. Lucin, Jean Weber Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Gabriela Magana, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Alfredo Martinez, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Monica J. Morales, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Jennifer Moreno, Stanley E. Cohen Memorial Scholarship ($600), Luis A. Naranjo, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Esmeralda Nunez, Bob Benedetto Memorial Scholarship for Social Workers ($1,000), Bethany E. Nusser, Oscar Aileen Horn Scholarship ($500), Maria Ortiz, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Ryan K. Ota, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Elizabeth C. Perez, John Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($4,000), Maria L. Robles, Adelante Scholarship ($1,000), Oscar G. Rodriguez, Ventura County Agricultural Scholarship ($500), Yvonne Solis, Bob Beltramo Memorial Scholarship for Athletic Sportsmanship ($500), Troy J. Thornton, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Olivia A. Watson, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Sarah Watte, Herbert A. Berlin Memorial Scholarship ($700), Paul Lehmann Memorial Scholarship ($500).
Piru
Isis M. Topete, Stanley E. Cohen Memorial Scholarship ($600).
Port Hueneme
Joseph Isaac S. Wong, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Roy N. Arguello, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kyle O. Paradeza, Iris Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,500), Maoly T. Romero, TEACh Scholarship ($1,800).
Santa Paula
Cindy Alamillo, Adelante Scholarship ($1,000), Maria N. Barrios, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Alexandria R. Bolanos, TEACh Scholarship ($1,300), Nicholas J. Garcia, Sepulveda/Garcia Latino Town Hall Scholarship ($500), Patricia Gomez, Adelante Scholarship ($1,000), William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Jeanette Gonzalez, Sepulveda/Garcia Latino Town Hall Scholarship ($500), Melissa Gwynn, Sepulveda/Garcia Latino Town Hall Scholarship ($500), Allisen V. Hansen, William P. Reiman Memorial Scholarship ($800), Emily F. Hobson, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Leo Rita Vanoni Scholarship ($1,000), Milton McKevett Teague Scholarship ($2,500), Sally K. Kiesow, SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Edwin Mancilla, Iris Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,500), Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Hailey A. McCarthy, Milton McKevett Teague Scholarship ($2,500), Jaymee E. McInerney, Sepulveda/Garcia Latino Town Hall Scholarship ($500), Nicolas Molina, John Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Jorge L. Navarro, John Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Emma Ruiz, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Talon J. Smith, Sepulveda/Garcia Latino Town Hall Scholarship ($500), VCCF Scholarship ($714), Ernesto Valdovinos, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Kannie Valdovinos, Sepulveda/Garcia Latino Town Hall Scholarship ($500), Melissa Vargas, Alfonso Dora Romero Scholarship ($700), Juliet F. Wilson, Calavo Scholarship ($2,000), Soroptimist of Santa Paula Scholarship ($1,000).
Simi Valley
Savannah D. Badalich, Gary W. Chism Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Anna M. Barson, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Daniela M. Burbano, Destino Scholarship ($2,500), James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Adrian L. Carcione, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Young Artists Scholarship ($2,500), Jarred R. Casselberry, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Brianna S. Deyling, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Catherine G. Foster, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Anthony M. Fowler, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Erin E. Hollander, John Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Trevor R. Mauk, Young Artists Scholarship ($2,500), Hamida Mohammad, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Shandi N. Muirhead, TEACh Scholarship ($3,300), Carolina Ramos, TEACh Scholarship ($700), Marissa R. Renyer, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Brenna N. Savage, Ventura County Medical Education ($3,500), Liberty Shee, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Andre L. Theus, TEACh Scholarship ($2,300), Ceclia L. Trujillo, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Catharine A. Welsh, Ventura County Medical Education ($3,500), Jordan P. Willis, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Ann W. Wong, Vicky Howard Community Service Award ($500), William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Chanchin J. Yeh, TEACh Scholarship ($1,300).
Somis
Frank A. Fassl, Bob Beltramo Memorial Scholarship for Athletic Sportsmanship ($500).
Thousand Oaks
Hannah C. Brunet, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Cody J. Canerdy, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Lucy E. Darago, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Nora A. Darago, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Sandra Davis, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Ventura County Medical Education ($3,500), Hans Gao, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Brian M. Ginell, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Michael P. Hanley, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Philip J. Hanley, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Ashley T. Lim, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Alison R. Ohringer, Gary W. Chism Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Shannon M. Palka, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Ian V. Roth, TEACh Scholarship ($700), Michaela R. Thompson, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Dillon A. Wexler, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000).
Ventura
Michael R. Adams, Ventura County Medical Education ($3,500), Leticia Aguayo, Iris Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,500), James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Rocio B. Alvarado, Charles J. Kay Schuler Scholarship ($750), Sabryna Aylard, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Jongin Baek, John Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Katelyn M. Bailey, Finck Family Charitable Scholarship ($500), Courtney E. Baird, Berenice Barnard Music Education Scholarship ($500), Alex R. Baucom, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Madeline R. Bell, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Matthew D. Bravo, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Mira S. Brown, John Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Matthew A. Burke, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Mike Frick Memorial Baseball Scholarship ($500), Veronica J. Bustamante, TEACh Scholarship ($1,800), Claudia C. Calderon, Roy A. Gustafson Memorial Scholarship ($3,000), Elaina M. Caliento, Ventura County Medical Education ($3,500), Melissa M. Carroll, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kimberly A. Castillo, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Dana M. Christie, Berenice Barnard Music Specialist Scholarship ($1,000), Sarah M. Contreras-Ortiz, Destino Scholarship ($2,500), SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Lucas M. Corley, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Colin J. Crilly, SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Madeleine R. Crilly, Edna Wirt Woods Ruth Nagel Scholarship ($750), Brittany D. Cullen, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kate B. Danker, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Richelle L. De Los Santos, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Travis J. Dunlop, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Charles Fast Horse Eads, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Carlo K. Ebora, Parker Virginia Howell Scholarship ($600), Charlotte C. Ellberg, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Michael C. Fickenscher, SAME Engineer/Architect Scholarship ($500), Kirsten I. Garbe, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Anna D. Geare, Katherine M. Wakelee Scholarship ($1,500), William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Deborah A. Gorman, Ventura County Medical Education ($3,500), Sean P. Hayward, Berenice Barnard Music Specialist Scholarship ($1,000), Bob Evie Florence Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Vivian Klemz Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Jordan W. Hendrix, VCCF Scholarship ($600), Nicholas S. Herson, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Emily L. Hickerson, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Su Ji Hong, Arleigh McConnell Memorial Scholarship ($600), Kent Weigel Math Scholarship ($700), Courtney M. Hultgen, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Jessica A. Jalaty, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Brooke E. Jepsen, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Annette R. Johnson, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Ariana L. Johnson, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kristine A. Kelley, Eleanor Tillquist Scholarship ($500), Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Andrea C. Lawson, Cheryl Shearer Scholarship ($1,000), Nerissa R. Lee-Young, TEACh Scholarship ($700), Gina V. Lopez, Bob Benedetto Memorial Scholarship for Social Workers ($1,000), Lihan Lu, Jan Heyne Memorial Scholarship ($5,000), Hannah C. Maryanski, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Cullen A. McAlpine, SAME Engineer/Architect Scholarship ($500), James D. McLeod, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Sherry Ann Miyara, TEACh Scholarship ($1300), Manuel A. Moreno, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Hayley T. Nisbet, Ventura County Medical Education ($3,500), Jenna M. O’Donnell, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Sam D. O’Donnell, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Tatsiana Parker, Joyce M. Kennedy, Ph.D., Scholarship ($1,200), Erie N. Parr, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Jennifer L. Paulsen, TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($2,500), Alexandra R. Phelps, Young Artists Scholarship ($2,500), Cheyanne A. Rios, Indian Education Scholarship ($300), Carly M. Roberg, Berenice Barnard Music Specialist Scholarship ($1,000), Katherine Rusmiselle, Arleigh McConnell Memorial Scholarship ($600), Sariely Sandoval, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Alec A. Sears, Mary R. James R. Galbraith Scholarship ($750), Celine K. Serrano, VCCF Scholarship ($600), Valerie B.Sgheiza, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Gabrielle N. Sharaga, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Ila S. Shimabuku, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Nichole C. Smith, Eleanor Tillquist Scholarship ($500), Michelle S. Stassforth, Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Erika S. Stutts, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Daniel Teran, Jan Heyne Memorial Scholarship ($5,000), Gabrielle J. Trainor, Berenice Barnard Music Education Scholarship ($500), Stephanie T.Wagner, John Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Chelsea R.Wallace, Delta Kappa Gamma Recruitment Grant Scholarship ($1,000), Orfalea Scholarship ($2,500), Matthew R. Woertink, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Paige E. Worley, Indian Education Scholarship ($300).
Westlake Village
Gillian B. Miller, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Amanda L. Mundell, William Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000),
Outside Ventura County
Janelle L. Cohen, Canoga Park, Community Folk Art Scholarship ($500); Kathy Murray, Charlotte, N.C., TEACh Scholarship ($700); Jessie A. Peterson, San Francisco, TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($7,500); Alexander T. Sill, West Hills, VCCF Scholarship ($600).