CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community Foundation awarded nearly $1.1 million in scholarships to local students at the recent 2015 Scholarship Awarded Reception attended by more than 400 students, their families, and many of the donors who made the awards possible, the organization reported in a media release.
Ventura County Community Foundation gave 326 awards to 239 students who will attend such universities as Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, California Lutheran, Pepperdine, and Cal State Channel Islands.
“These scholarships are made possible by the generosity of people who believe in investing in the future of our county,” said Vanessa Bechtel, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “The opportunity for just one student to attend college can transform that person, a family, and a community.”
Since its founding in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation has awarded more than $11.9 million in scholarships and is the local leader in granting financial assistance to Ventura County students.
The scope of this undertaking would not be possible without dozens of volunteers who review and rate the applications, ensuring each complies with the guidelines set by the donors who established each scholarship fund.
Here are the 2015 Ventura County Community Foundation scholarship winners, listed by city of residence:
Camarillo — Erick Alvarez, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($750), Cynthia Anderson, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Melissa Bell, Bob Beltramo Memorial Scholarship Fund for Athletic Sportsmanship ($1,000), Taylor Binney, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Rose Cagliano, Stephen Devron Resnik Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Krista Chavez, Ann Marie Education Fund ($500), Alexa Covey, Finck Family Scholarship ($600) and John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Nicholas De Los Santos, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kayla Dillard, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Rachel Dobrin, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Jeffrey Fielding, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Coleen Elizabeth Filipinas, Ventura County Career/Technical Education Scholarship ($1,000), David Gatchel, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Rachel Gerety, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund award ($1,000), Abigail Gillmore, Delta Kappa Gamma Recruitment Grant ($1,000), Jairo Gonzalez, Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000) and John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000) and Ventura County Medical Education Fund ($3,500), Jack Ito, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Miranda Kildee, Community and Folk Arts Scholarship ($500) and VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($500), Marin Lockwood, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Melizha Aira Matias, Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000), Michael Mayper, Mary R. and James R. Galbraith Scholarship ($1,000), Kimberly Mendenhall, Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000) and Ventura County Medical Education Fund ($3,500), Hector Molina Rivera, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Sarah Nagel, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Julia Packham, Jerry E. Lorenz Scholarship ($600) and VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($500), Hannah Ray, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Megan Resnik, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Katherine Rhodes, Bob Benedetto Memorial Scholarship for Social Workers ($1,000), Carlos Rivera, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Marcia Rocha, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Elaina Ryan, AAUW Camarillo/Oxnard Branch Scholarship ($1,500), Cheyenne Summers, TEACh Fund, ($2,500) and TEACh Opportunity Fund ($2,000), Krista Thomas, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), J. Miguel Undurraga, Charles K. and Ola I. Gose Scholarship ($1,000) and Salik Omar Shah Scholarship ($1,000) and ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Logan Watkins, Bob Beltramo Memorial Scholarship Fund for Athletic Sportsmanship ($1,000), Scott Watterson, Ventura County Medical Education Fund ($3,500)
Fillmore — Jorge Hurtado, ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Timmy Klittich, Association of Water Agencies of Ventura County Scholarship ($500) and Milton McKevett Teague Scholarship ($2,500) and Ventura County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarship ($1,000) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
Geneva, IL — Kaitlyn Kanarowski, Rosellen Dee Pearsall Nurse Scholarship ($5,000)
Irvine — Dakari Shea, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($2,500) and TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($1,000)
Las Vegas, NV — Carolina Jennings, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($750)
Lexington, KY — Simone Curd, Rosellen Dee Pearsall Nurse Scholarship ($5,000), Brianna D’Alessandri, Rosellen Dee Pearsall Nurse Scholarship ($5,000)
Los Angeles — Laura Lucas, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000)
Moorpark — Megan Barukh, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and Science Matters Scholarship ($2,000), Alexandra Brandenburg, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Brooke Carey, Jean Weber Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Andrew Daehlin, Supervisor Jim Dougherty Scholarship ($4,000), Leah Daley, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kayley Krystkowiak, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Matthew Markham, Young Artists Scholarship ($2,500), Elizabeth Mason, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Dylan Medlock, Paul W. Lawrason, Jr. Scholarship ($750) and Second Century Legacy Fund ($500), Josseline Pineda, Destino Scholarship ($2,500), Lauren Rezak, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kelsey Rouse, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Brooke Stanley, Stanley E. Cohen Memorial Scholarship ($950), Daniel Toomey, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Matthew Trujillo, ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Jeanette Valencia, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000)
Nashville, TN — Daniel Worsham, Merfeld Family Foundation Scholarship ($2,500)
Newbury Park — Anne Alward, Smith Family Foundation Scholarship for Emancipated Foster Youth ($6,000) and TEACh Fund Scholarship ($1,000), Makenna Brown, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Robert Brown, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Margaux Jones, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kellie McPherson, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000) and Orfalea Scholarship Award ($7,000), Kathleen Owens, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
Oak Park — Molley Agapiou, Jan Heyne Memorial Scholarship ($5,000), Devola Chandramohan, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Polina Davydov, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Juliana Furgala, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) and SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Monica Hennessy, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Tyler Kristensen, Jean Weber Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Justin Liu, Gary W. Chism Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Maris Paden, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Irena Yang, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Jianna Zeolla, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
Oak View — Brandon Boyd, Berenice Barnard Music Education Scholarship ($1,000) and Berenice Barnard Music Specialist Scholarship ($700) and Bob and Evie Florence Memorial Scholarship ($900), Kristen Reid, Bob Benedetto Memorial Scholarship for Social Workers ($1,000), Haley Yanez, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000)
Ojai — Elijah Balderas, Dennis S. Ford Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Kevin Griffee, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Emily Hall, Berenice Barnard Music Education Scholarship ($1,000) and Berenice Barnard Music Specialist Scholarship ($700) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Michaelaina Johnson, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Andrew Kaiser, Gary W. Chism Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Timothy Kent, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Tayla Muise, TEACh Scholarship ($750), Sasha Ongley, Leo and Rita Vanoni Scholarship ($1,000) and Milton McKevett Teague Scholarship ($2,500) and William P. Reiman Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
Oxnard — Xiomara Alvarez, Gould Family Scholarship ($1,000) and TEACh Fund Scholarship ($750), Kimberly Au, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and Semtech Scholarship ($5,000), Billie Beard, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000) and TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($5,000), Jayda Bell, TEACh Fund scholarship ($500), Karina Bondelid, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Quavilin Brice, Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000) and Ventura County Medical Education Fund ($3,500), Presis Bryson, Orfalea Scholarship Award ($7,000) and TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500), Teresa Castillo, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000) and Michael Gordon Burgos Memorial Scholarship ($1,500), Stephanie Chavez, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and ¡Adelante!Scholarship ($4,000), Andrea Dunphy, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Yuriana Escobar Rivas, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Joshua Garcia, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Garret Garlinger, Helen M. Yunker Music Scholarship, Sierra Garlinger, Jan Heyne Memorial Scholarship ($5,000), Karla Granados, Oscar and Aileen Horn Scholarship ($900), Arturo Guerrero, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Kyra Harbus, Bob Beltramo Memorial Scholarship for Athletic Sportsmanship ($1,000) and Gould Family Scholarship ($1,000), Lilly Henderson, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500), Eduardo Luciano Huapaya, Paul Lehmann Memorial Scholarship ($950), Mary-Allison Ihrke, Paul Lehmann Memorial Scholarship ($950), Kayla Jones, Orfalea Scholarship Award ($7,000), Jake La Rosa, Herbert A. Berlin Memorial Scholarship ($700), Jarely Lopez, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000) and ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Jacob Mabee, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and Sepulveda and Garcia/Latino Town Hall Scholarship ($2,000), Jesica Mendoza, Michael Gordon Burgos Memorial Scholarship ($1,500), Emily Meschke, Paul Lehmann Memorial Scholarship ($950) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Abril Morales, Katherine M. Wakelee Scholarship ($1,500) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Angel Nava, TEACh Scholarship Fund ($750), Paulina Helena Nava, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000) and Sepulveda and Garcia/Latino Town Hall Scholarship ($2,000) and ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Jacqueline Nguyen, Gary W. Chism Memorial Scholarship ($1,000) and James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Elizabeth Ortiz-Menchaca, SAGE Scholarship ($2,000) and Sepulveda and Garcia/Latino Town Hall Scholarship ($2,000) and ¡Adelante!Scholarship ($4,000), Agustina Pacheco, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500), Erika Prado, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and Salik Omar Shah Scholarship ($1,000) and ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Juan Quero, Jr., James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Yesenia Ramos, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($500) and Ventura County Agricultural Scholarship ($600), Martina Reyes, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Anahi Rivera, Gould Family Scholarship ($1,000), Jessica Rivera, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Desiree Romero, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Rene Rosas, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and SAGE Scholarship ($2,000) and Salik Omar Shah Scholarship ($1,000), Emilio Ruiz, Mary R. and James R. Galbraith Scholarship ($1,000), Brenda Ruiz Anaya, ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Samantha Ruiz Garcia, Destino Scholarship ($2,500), Albert Samson, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Marissa Soto, Margaret A. Tompkins Oxnard Monday Club Scholarship ($1,000), Cody Stults, Smith Family Foundation Scholarship for Emancipated Foster Youth ($1,000) and TEACh Fund Scholarship ($1,000), Myeisha Thompson, Ventura County Medical Education Fund ($3,500), Taylor Thornton, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), David Torres, Bob Beltramo Memorial Scholarship for Athletic Sportsmanship ($1,000), Venice Faye Torres, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Arlene Villalobos, SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Juan Villalobos, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000)
Piru — Luz Figueroa, Bob Benedetto Memorial Scholarship for Social Workers ($1,000), Freddy Hurtado, Finch Family Scholarship ($5,000), Viridiana Quintana, Finch Family Scholarship ($5,000)
Port Hueneme — Aime Cano-Ramirez, Destino Scholarship ($2,500), Cristina Garcia, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000) and ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Claudia Gonzalez, Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000) and Ventura County Medical Education Fund ($3,500), Nailah McBride, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500) and VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Brighette Ramirez, AAUW Camarillo/Oxnard Branch Scholarship ($1,500)
San Diego — Veronica Bustamante, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($2,500) and TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($1,000)
San Francisco — Breanna Cuellar, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500), Ayame Kristofferson, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($2,500) and TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($2,000)
Santa Paula — Kimberly Aguilar, Ventura County Career/Technical Education Scholarship ($1,000), Brian Alcaraz, Leo and Rita Vanoni Scholarship ($1,000), Evelyn Almaraz, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Johanna Contreras, Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000), Naomi De Silva, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000) and SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Yesenia Garcia, Michael Gordon Burgos Memorial Scholarship ($1,500), Ruth Jacinto, Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000), Emani Kelley, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Claudia Magana, Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000), Cesar Medrano, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Alondra Navarro, ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Selina Rico, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000), Luis Salgado, Stanley E. Cohen Memorial Scholarship ($950), Bailey Van Buren, Alfonso and Dora Romero Scholarship ($850), Santiago Vina, Calavo Scholarship Fund ($1,000), Ian Wilson, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
Simi Valley — Maitreyi Ashok, Semtech Corporation Scholarship ($5,000), Manasa Ashok, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Amanda Brusca, David G. Casavan Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Nicholas Fowler, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Destiny Harper, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500), Olivia Hernandez, John and Agnes McFarlane Scholarship ($5,000) and TEACh Fund Scholarship ($4,000) and TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($3,000), Hannah Kaya, Joyce M. Kennedy, Ph.D. Scholarship ($1,200), Connor Lott, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Nicholas Nguyen, Gary W. Chism Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Nathan Porter, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), April Sessums, Cheryl Shearer Scholarship ($2,000) and Supervisor Jim Dougherty Scholarship ($4,000), Ryann Stibor, SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Natalie Titcomb, Eleanor Tillquist Scholarship ($750) and Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000), Megan White, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($500) and Vicky Howard Community Service Award ($600), Lucy Yeh, Orfalea Scholarship Award ($7,000) and Teach Fund Scholarship ($2,500)
Thousand Oaks — Erika Moxley, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Margaret Darago, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Adam Ginell, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Mihoko Kubo, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Dylan Lasley, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kelley Lyons, Smith Family Foundation Scholarship for Emancipated Foster Youth ($5,000) and TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500), Cristina Miranda, Smith Family Foundation Scholarship for Emancipated Foster Youth ($6,000) and TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($6,000), Sophie Ormond, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
Ventura — Summer Al-Saleh, SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Brian Andrews, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Erinn Beattie, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Grace Boyes, SAME Engineer/Architect Scholarship ($750), Paul Byrne, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Cole Citrenbaum, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Elizabeth Clews, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500), Natalie Cooper, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kylie Crane, Brad Donley Memorial Scholarship ($500), Avalon Elliott, Edna Wirt Woods and Ruth Nagel Scholarship ($1,000), Sarah Fahr, Association of Water Agencies of Ventura County Scholarship ($500) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Nicole Faulkner, Charles J. and Kay Schuler Scholarship ($1,000), James Florez, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), John Garcia, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Dylan Goodwin, Bethany Anne Cody Scholarship ($1,000) and SAGE Scholarship ($2,000), Donna Granata, Vivian Klemz Memorial Scholarship ($1,500), Heather Julius, Cheryl Shearer Scholarship ($2,000) and Eleanor Tillquist Scholarship ($750) and Iris and Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship ($1,000) and Ventura County Medical Education Fund ($3,500), Tristin Klipp-Sabol, Kent Weigel Math Scholarship ($1,000), XiaoRou Liang, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000), Kathryn Lovett, Orfalea Scholarship Award ($7,000), Freddy Manzanarez, ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Dorothy Martin, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and TEACh Fund Scholarship ($2,500) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Genae Matthews, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Sandra Meliton, ¡Adelante! Scholarship ($4,000), Andrew Miech, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Marissa Miller, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500), Daniel Mountcastle, Mike Larrabee Athletic Scholarship ($1,500), Melissa Murray, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($500), Michelle Nakagawa, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Madeline Offerman, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Jennifer Paulsen, Orfalea Scholarship Award ($2,500) and TEACh Opportunity Scholarship ($3,500), Sasha Poirier, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Madeleine Riddle, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Hanna Rivera, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Dayna Samuels, Bethany Anne Cody Scholarship ($1,000) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Sariely Sandoval, 25th Anniversary Scholarship ($900), Fabian Schaefer, Arleigh McConnell Memorial Scholarship ($633), Anne Sinclair, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Madison Stott, Arleigh McConnell Memorial Scholarship ($633) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Kinsey Thomas, James C. Basile Scholarship ($20,000) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Daisy Valdez, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund ($1,000), Amber Walton, Arleigh McConnell Memorial Scholarship ($633) and SAME Engineer/Architect Scholarship ($750), Tristan Wedderien, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Cameron Wilkinson, Mike Frick Memorial Baseball Scholarship ($1,000) and SAGE Scholarship ($2,000) and William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
Sacramento — Sean Creadick, Roy A. Gustafson Memorial Scholarship ($5,000)
Westlake Village — Marisol Gonzalez, TEACh Fund Scholarship ($750), Fariha Hameed, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000), Ryan Kurohara, William and Cynthia Fairburn Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)