Photos courtesy ATLAS Ventura Housing.
Since 2015, the scholarship program has helped residents move beyond housing stability and into long-term success through education
VENTURA — On June 17, ATLAS welcomed more than 150 guests to the Museum of Ventura County for its annual Scholarship Celebration, recognizing students pursuing higher education, career training, and professional development opportunities. ATLAS also revealed a new brand direction that better aligns with its mission as the nonprofit dedicated to empowering and uplifting participants of Ventura Housing programs, promoting stability and self-sufficiency. The organization received 29 scholarship applications from residents and program participants. Following a competitive review process, 16 students were selected to receive a combined $35,500 in scholarship funding to support their educational and career goals.
“Through ATLAS, we are helping families move beyond housing stability and into long-term success through education,” said Jeffrey Lambert, CEO of Ventura Housing. “When a student earns a degree, the impact reaches far beyond one person. It changes the trajectory of an entire family.”
The recipients will attend institutions including Ponce Health Sciences University, Ventura College, Oxnard College, California Lutheran University, and California State University Channel Islands, pursuing degrees and certifications in fields such as nursing, engineering, psychology, education, and business. This year’s scholarship recipients are: Youstina Magdy Abd, Andrea Anaya, Alexis Bautista, Rebecca Becerra, Jacob Colmenares, Milagrosa Hedman, Darling Hernandez, Bryelle Joaquin, Natalie Lopez, Britney Mooney, Janel Noonkester, Jennifer Paulsen, Thomas Daniel Ray, Asencion Romero, Mirella Toledano, and Christopher Vergara.
“Stable housing has been ahuge part of my journey,” said Christopher V., a scholarship recipient. “Before this, my family and I moved around a lot, and having a stable home now has given us a safe space to grow, make memories, and allowed me to finally focus on school again and stay committed to my goals.”
Ventura City Councilmember Ryyn Schumacher presented the evening’s keynote and shared his own journey from homelessness to public service, a reminder of what is possible when people have access to stable housing and education. For many families living in affordable housing, a safe and stable home provides the foundation for future success, but the region’s affordable housing crisis can create additional barriers to opportunity.
The event celebrated not only the achievements of the scholarship recipients, but also the community of supporters, sponsors, and advocates who help make educational opportunities possible for Ventura Housing families. ATLAS Board Member Diana Sparagna was presented with the Beacon Award in recognition of her many years of steadfast support for the Scholarship Celebration. The event was made possible through the generous support of presenting sponsor Dianna Sparagna; gold sponsor The Port of Hueneme, Oxnard Harbor District; and silver sponsors The Becker Group, Inc., J&S Properties & Mgt Co, Stacy Miller Public Affairs Inc., Ventura County Credit Union, and Mike Merewether.
Since launching in 2015, the ATLAS Scholarship Program has helped bridge that gap by providing financial support to residents pursuing academic and career advancement. Since its inception, the ATLAS Scholarship Program has awarded 67 scholarships and distributed more than $127,500 in educational assistance to Ventura Housing students. To support ATLAS and the scholarship with a donation visit: ATLAS-venturahousing.org/donations
