The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara awarded a record $8.74 million to more than 3,000 Santa Barbara County students at two annual awards ceremonies during the last week of May in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.
Proud parents, students, and local philanthropic leaders gathered at First Christian Church in Santa Maria to honor students from the northern part of the county on May 24, and at the Sunken Gardens of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse to honor students from the southern part of the county on May 25.
The annual awards ceremonies were hosted by the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara in conjunction with its largest partner, the Santa Barbara Foundation, with a contribution of $1.5 million in scholarship funds this year.
The Scholarship Foundation received 3,880 applications for financial support. While 3,016 of those students received student aid, more than 800 students were turned away due to lack of funds.
“This year’s record $8.74 million in scholarships to more than 3,000 students was only possible because of our many contributors. The board of directors of the Scholarship Foundation is so very grateful,” said Barrett O’Gorman, chair of the board of directors of the Scholarship Foundation in a press release.
“And, as proud as we are of this achievement, we are always striving year to year to award scholarships to each and every student who applies. It is extremely disappointing to deny any deserving student a chance to pursue their dream of a higher education degree or credential.”
This article appears in Jun 2-9, 2016.