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Ventura re-entry students honored
Photo courtesy of Ventura College Ventura College Phoenix Scholarship winners are, front row, from left: Oboli Gurara, Miguel Hernandez, Michael Juarez and Nichole Arimura; middle row, from left: Michelle Amey, Monica Novoa, Jennifer Stuart, Michelle Frustre, Elizabeth Lira, Patricia Faux, Alma Garcia, Julieta Lopez-Herrera and Hana Randakova; and back row, from left: Marye Sasso, Elizabeth Gollner, Richard Betita, Kathy Okada and Melanie Morales. Not pictured: Patricia Bergman.
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More from CommunitiesA record 19 re-entry students at Ventura College have earned Phoenix Scholarships of $1,000 each.
In announcing the winners, Norbert Tan, executive director of the Ventura College Foundation, said the $19,000 is twice the amount historically awarded. In addition, the awards were given to almost twice the number of students historically recognized.
Tom Anthony, Ventura College Foundation board chairman, said the scholarships are part of a foundation program "named for the phoenix rising, symbolizing new beginnings. It is a special program for re- entry students at Ventura College created in 1999 by several of the foundation's board members."
The Phoenix Scholarship awards ceremony was in Guthrie Hall on the Ventura College campus. The scholarships were presented to the recipients by Colleen Toy White, Ventura County Superior Court judge, a member of the Ventura College Foundation board of directors and a Ventura College re-entry student herself.
According to Tan, "by definition, a re-entry student is one whose educational progression was either terminated or interrupted prior to completion. Although the program is not limited to single parents, many re-entry students are single parents who must work, secure child care and go to school, all at the same time.
"Sadly, re-entry students are often caught in a vicious circle; they cannot go to school because they cannot afford child care and they cannot earn the money needed to pay for child care because they do not have the education needed," Tan continued. "In addition, they are often part-time students and, therefore, do not qualify for most traditional scholarship or financial aid.
"The Phoenix Scholarship, by taking care of some of the students' direct educational expenses, makes it possible for these students to continue their education rather than abandoning their goals. The foundation generously increased the amount of the scholarship as these costs have continued to rise for our students."
All but one of the scholarship winners are from Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Ventura; one is from Santa Barbara.
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