UC Santa Cruz Review Summer/Fall 1995

Campus Update: Scholarship program brings ten outstanding community college students to UC Santa Cruz

Ten outstanding community college transfer students have received prestigious scholar-ships that will enable them to complete their undergraduate education at UCSC. Recipients of Leadership Opportunity Awards receive $10,000 scholarships for each of two years, as well as assistance finding paid summer work experience in a field that complements their academic studies, and the support of a strong academic mentoring program.

The Leadership Opportunity Awards program was established in 1993 by Chancellor Pister to recognize talented students who have overcome adverse socioeconomic circumstances, have a demonstrated commitment to assisting and improving the lives of others, and who might not otherwise be able to attend UCSC for financial reasons. Several students are nominated by the presidents of each of thirteen regional community colleges, and recipients are selected by Pister in consultation with a screening committee.

"Now in its third year, this program is making a difference for some of the most talented, hardworking community college students whose options might not otherwise include transferring to the University of California," says Pister. "We are building a bridge between the regional community colleges and the Santa Cruz campus."

The program has been praised by the presidents of the participating community colleges.

Up to thirteen recipients are selected each year, and each recipient will have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience through paid summer jobs that are cosponsored by private- and public-sector employers. Previous recipients have arranged summer internships with IBM, the Santa Clara County Legal Aid Society, the Santa Clara County Office of Education, the City of Watsonville, the Yo Puedo Program of the Monterey County Office of Education, and other organizations.

A $5.2 million endowment is being established to fund the Leadership Opportunity Awards permanently. Significant new gifts received during the past year include contributions from the Santa Cruz Business and Professional Women, which funded the SCBPW Scholarship (see story, page 5), and Stephanie Mills, who funded the Mills Family Scholarship. The first LOA fund-raiser was also held last winter, a dance performance at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz County that raised more than $20,000

The 1995 Leadership Opportunity Award recipients are:

Thu Mong Duong

of Salinas, Hartnell College

Michael S. Duran

of Gilroy, Gavilan College

Raymond G. Emanuel

of Daly City, College of San Mateo

Ricardo A. Fiallos

of Sunnyvale, Mission College

Elsa M. Jimenez

of Daly City, Skyline College

Claudia S. Melendez

of Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College

Jose Venegas Moreno

of San Jose, De Anza College

Herbert G. Ruffin II

of Milpitas, San Jose City College

Deondra L. Wilson

of Los Gatos, West Valley College

B. Magalli Yoho

of Mountain View, Foothill College