President Cheree Edwards opened the Zoom meeting at noon with a warm welcome to the best club she knows. She thanked Tara Saylor and the Scholarship Committee for their work in putting today’s special scholarship awards program together.
 

Cheree reminded members that next week is dark as it is a fifth Friday.   A Zoom Friday Social with takeout by Boccali’s is being planned. Members should get their takeout and then tune in on Zoom for fun and games. Watch for an Evite this week.

 

A video of graduates singing the national anthem served as today’s flag salute.
 

Cheree turned the meeting over to Janet Campbell, Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee and Don Reed, Chairperson of the Education Foundation. 

 

Janet introduced Bret Bradigan who kicked off today’s program with a minute in history. 100 BC Rome. The third Punic war had just been won by the Romans. Members of the Gracchus family were dedicated to public service especially agrarian reform. Soldiers were coming back from war to return to farming the land but did not have access to it. The Gracchus brothers sought to transfer land from wealthy landowners to poorer citizens. Cornelia, the matriarch of the Gracchus family and the daughter of a famous general, raised her sons to make the world a better place. Cornelia was hosting a gathering of Roman noble women. They were admiring each other’s jewelry. Cornelia was asked where here jewelry was. Of course, being the humble person she was, she did not have any. Just then her sons came into the room and she said “there are my jewels.”  Brett reminded us that even during the darkest moments of this COVID crisis, we should continue to be inspired by the very giving and supportive community that is Ojai.

 

Janet officially welcomed everyone to this year’s scholarship recognition event. The Rotary Club of Ojai is honored to give these awards and admires and appreciates all those who are receiving them. Ojai’s youth are our future. This year 28 students receiving scholarships. Janet introduced Don Reed, President of the Educational Foundation who gave a brief history of the Club’s scholarship program. In 1991 the Club decided to expand its scholarship outreach and started a tax-deductible Educational Foundation (RCOEF). The goal was to build a better community. This year $68,000 in scholarships based on merit and financial need are being given to 24 students entering four-year colleges. Four additional scholarships are being given to deserving students entering technical schools. In addition, RCOEF has given $30,000 to support local non-profits this year. All told, RCOEF has given $100,000 to the Ojai community this year. RCOEF can do this through careful investment. Check the Rotary Club of Ojai website for info on how to donate.

 

Janet Campbell began the presentations. As each awardee’s name was read, he/she was asked to make a brief statement about the university/college he/she planned to attend and share any aspirations for career goals. All thanked the Club for its generosity especially in this time of COVID-19.

 

Restricted to graduates of Nordhoff High School

 

Riley Leis – UC Davis/Civil and Environmental Engineering
Jennah Karlsen – University of Nevada Reno/Community & Public Health

Christian Ramirez – not in attendance

Kelsey Hoj – UCLA/Theater with emphasis in acting
Jonah Hoj – UCLA/Political Science

Julian Sanchez – Cal Lutheran/Biochemistry (1st generation)

Memorial Career and Technical Education Scholar (1 recipient)

Esmeralda Velasquez – Ventura College for two years then transfer/ Studio Art and Art History (1^st generation)

 

Eleanor Rupp Memorial Scholarship
Nordhoff graduate pursuing teaching
Audrey Carroll – UCSB/Math
 

Godfrey, Jeanette and Allan Jacobs Scholarship presented by Jack Jacobs

Yamilet Herrera – UCSB/Biological Sciences (1^st generation)

 

Dr. Youssef & Patricia Mawardi Career and Technical Education Scholarship presented by Lawrence Meyer
Sebastian Cruz – Not in attendance

 

Chase Gorell – Ventura College/Oxnard Fire Tech. Goal to be a Fire Fighter/Paramedic

 

Ted Fauvre Memorial Scholarship presented by Dr. Fred Fauvre

Cecilia Elizalde – Point Loma Nazarene University/Biochemistry

 

Terry Handrahan Memorial Scholarship
Chandler Pullen – Doane University in Nebraska/Exercise Science with emphasis on strength and conditioning (1^st generation). Plans to play football

 

Armand and Florence Amado Memorial Scholarship
Jina Zhao – Attended Thacher. Not in attendance.

 

Jane Lewis – Attended Midland. A message was read.
Nicholas Stringer – Attended Nordhoff. Simpson University in Redding, CA Kinesiology. Goal to become a physical therapist. Plans to wrestle.
Brian Schurmer – Attended Nordhoff. Not in attendance.
Avery Colborn – Attended Nordhoff. Colorado College/Environmental Studies and Spanish

Reagan Schlegel – Attended Nordhoff. UCLA/Environmental Science

 

Shari Skinner Memorial Scholarship presented by Judy Gabriel

Ethan Foote – Not in attendance

 

Father John Glenn Scholarship –

Rhett Speer - Attended Villanova Prep. Not in attendance.

 

Frank and Maudette Fink Scholarship presented by Frank Fink

Kate Anderson - Attended Villanova Prep. Gonzaga University/Business Marketing with a minor in Spanish

 

Thacher Family Scholarship presented by Tony Thacher

Cassandra Traver – Attended Ventura HS. Middlebury College/Political Science and History

 

Friend Family Scholarship presented by Tony Thacher

Milo Maurer – Attended Besant Hill. UC Berkeley. A message was read.

 

Lerie Bjornstedt Family Trust Scholarship presented by Cheree Edwards

Chelsea Munoz – Cal Lutheran University/Biology. Goal to become a general dentist.

 

 

 

 

 

Dana Huffman Memorial Scholarship presented by Cheree Edwards
Anabella Page – UC Berkeley/Architecture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Skankey Active Service Above Self Scholarship presented by Bob Skankey

Hunter Thomas – Brigham Young University/Mechanical Engineering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Robertson - Attended Thacher. John Hopkins University/Art History

 

Janet recognized and thanked school counselors at various schools and then scholarship committee members Don Reed, David Watson, Cristine Golden, Randy Roth, Ron Wilson, Terry Twitchell and Mike Malone.

 

Janet asked all the students to recognize their parents with applause. She then asked all family members and fellow Rotarians for a round of applause honoring the amazing student awardees. In closing, Janet gave a final shout out to Tara for all her work in organizing the event and a congratulations to all!

 

President Cheree adjourned the meeting at 1:05 pm by congratulating each student by name and reciting this inspiring quote by the Dalai Lama –