Information Courtesy of Gavilan College. Photo above includes Kate Woods Memorial Scholarship winners.
Veronica Martinez, Gavilan College Director of Financial Aid, welcomed the audience. United States Marine Corps veteran and Gavilan College student Raymond Lopez, Jr, who was awarded several scholarships himself, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Gavilan alumnus Omar Lopez, who was a first generation college student at Gavilan and is is now a student at University of California Santa Cruz, spoke and told the donors how the scholarships he had been awarded at Gavilan had helped him to succeed: “Scholarships are life-changing” he said, “with the support I received I was able to get two associate degrees, do a MESA internship at San Jose State University, and a NASA internship” as well as serve as student body president and join campus clubs. He exhorted the recipients to get ahead and then help others by giving back to their school, saying “Make it possible for others to sit where you are.”
The largest single scholarship awarded was the annual Karl S. Pister Scholarship of $10,000 per year for two years for a student transferring to University of California at Santa Cruz. This year’s recipient, Allison Jordon, plans to major in psychology. She has overcome a lot of hardship in her life and excelled every step of the way. The daughter of a single mother and homeless father, Allison took on responsibility at an early age, working as a waitress to help pay the family’s expenses, and graduating from Gilroy High School at only 16. In addition to her schoolwork, she has given back to the community, spearheading a 5K walk to raise money to find a cure for multiple sclerosis and volunteering regularly at a safe parking program for homeless families. As Allison said in her application: “Coming from a low income family with a single mom and a homeless father will not deter me from striving for my dreams. The Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Program Scholarship will make these dreams even more in reach…it will become possible to break the cycle.”
A number of new scholarships were presented this year:
- Anne Murphy Baer Memorial Scholarship (2)
- Bill Hooper Memorial Scholarship (3)
- Carla Hayden Freedom Scholarships (2)
- Kate Woods Memorial Scholarship
- Monterey Bay Colony Mayflower Society Scholarship
- Robin & Gary Rude Memorial Scholarship
These joined the ongoing scholarships:
- American Association of University Women – Gilroy Branch (1)
- American Association of University Women – Morgan Hill Branch (3)
- American Association of University Women Lauren Jenkins Healthcare Scholarships (4)
- American Legion Post 217 (5)
- Associated Students of Gavilan College, General Scholarship (2)
- Associated Students of Gavilan College, John Pruitt Leadership Scholarship (13)
- Bernard Osher Scholarships (5)
- Besson Family Vineyards Scholarships (2)
- Cindy Starr Memorial Scholarships (2)
- Edna and Waldo Rohnert Memorial Scholarships (2)
- Edward Thorne Memorial Scholarship (1)
- EOPS Club Scholarships (4)
- EOPS Region IV Consortium Awards (2)
- Esther Costales Forman Scholarship (1)
- Eunice J. Picetti Memorial Scholarships (15)
- Fulfill Your Dream Scholarships (3)
- Gavilan CommClub Scholarships (2)
- Gavilan CSEA Chapter #270 Scholarship (1)
- Gavilan Gala Scholarships 93)
- Gavilan Leadership Council Scholarships (3)
- Gilroy Chamber of Commerce Sorenson Lake Scholarship (1)
- Gilroy Elks Lodge Scholarship in Health Sciences (1)
- Gilroy Garlic Festival Rudy Melone Scholarship (1)
- Gilroy Rotary Scholarships – General (2)
- Gilroy Rotary Scholarships – Susan Seledon (2)
- Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation Scholarships (3)
- Gilroy Legion Hall Henry and Hattie Nurling Award for Nursing (1)
- Kai and Libby Lai Family Scholarships (3)
- Kate Woods Memorial Scholarships (2)
- Marge and George Dufresne Nursing Scholarship (1)
- Monterey Bay Colony Mayflower Society Scholarship (1)
- Morgan Hill Kiwanis Career Technical Scholarship (1)
- Pacific Dining Scholarships (2)
- Robin and Gary Rude Memorial Scholarships (2)
- Saint Louise Regional Hospital Volunteers Scholarship (1)
- South County Democratic Club Scholarships (4)
