Gavilan College has awarded scholarships, including six new
scholarships of $500, to more than 100 students for their
scholastic achievements, community involvement and leadership,
bringing the total awarded to $60,000.
Gavilan College has awarded scholarships, including six new scholarships of $500, to more than 100 students for their scholastic achievements, community involvement and leadership, bringing the total awarded to $60,000.
Families and award recipients anxiously waited to receive their scholarships at the Gavilan College Student Center.
“Scholarships are so critical to the students, they can go toward textbooks and tuition. Our hope is that the scholarships will give the students the extra boost they need to excel in school,” said Steve Kinsella, college president.
James Gregory Herrera, of Morgan Hill, was the big winner. He earned the Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Program, University of Santa Cruz Award, for $20,000.
“Both his commitment to academics, and leadership with the Gavilan basketball team is what made him stand out and is the reason he was chosen,” said presenter John Baker, vice president of student services for the college.
“It feels so great being awarded this scholarship, and it will help me so much with tuition,” said Herrera.
Audren Morris, scholarship chair and director of financial aid at Gavilan, said this year’s applicants were all really competitive and she wishes there were more to be awarded.
This did not stop Vanessa Apodaca, of Gilroy, from earning four of the scholarships totaling more than $750.
“This will go towards my first month’s tuition at CalPoly San Luis Obispo in the fall,” Apodaca said.
The scholarships came from 52 organizations, community groups and individuals.
Memorial scholarships like The Isobel Milton Cerney Memorial scholarship are awarded to a student who works for peace and justice, while the Bonnie Mezerkor Memorial Scholarship is given to a student interested in fine arts.
