OXNARD — High school seniors graduating in June 2014 are eligible to apply for the Josie Salinas Educational Scholarship. Students from Oxnard Union High Schools and Santa Clara High are eligible to apply for one of five scholarships. Students must be enrolled or are in the enrollment process for community college, four year universities, or an accredited Vocational/Technical school. The scholarship requires a 2.0 GPA or better, 2 letters of recommendation, community service, transcripts and an essay expressing any hardship or challenges hindering educational success.
This annual educational fund was established by Ms. Josie Salinas prior to her death in 2011. She believed that education was self-empowering, and it is the one thing you can never lose. Josie worked two jobs and went to school full-time. She often struggled to have her needs met, but she never wavered from her goal of achieving a college education.
She began working with youthful offenders, as a Youth Counselor, for the California Youth Authority (now the Calif. Department of Corrections). She became a Native American Spiritual Advisor and helped establish a sweat lodge on CDC grounds and gave instruction in Native American ways.
This scholarship emphasizes her belief in giving back to her community as well as her conviction of self growth by knowledge.
Contact JosieSalinasScholarship@gmail.com or the high school Career Center for an application. Deadline is June 16, 2014.