Placer Community Foundation Awards Local Students Scholarships

Students  Surprised at High School Graduation Ceremonies

Auburn, Calif. – Over 100 students received exciting news that they are Placer Community Foundation (PCF) college scholarship awardees, many of whom were surprised at their high school graduation ceremonies, as recent as May 21, 2018.

“It brings us tremendous joy to know our donors have helped so many deserving and hardworking students,” said Veronica Blake, Placer Community Foundation CEO, who explained the students will be pursuing an array interests, including engineering, mechatronics, neurobiology, theater, welding, and more. “Many of these students didn’t think college was possible, but now it’s a part of their future.”

Scholarships from the Foundation were issued in varying amounts reaching up to $4000 per student, some with annual continuation eligibility for four years. One student benefiting from the Ben Parra Scholarship Fund, a fund at PCF that awards annual scholarships, is Karina Mauricio Juarez of Lincoln High School. She will attend California State University, Chico in the fall, where she plans to major in English with a goal to one day become a teacher.

“This grant is truly a blessing,” said Mauricio. “This scholarship is another motivation to continue dreaming and never doubt that college is unreachable. To be awarded this scholarship and represent an amazing man who gave back to education and his community is honestly very important and something I’ll forever cherish.”

In total, Mauricio is eligible to receive up to $16,000 in scholarship funding over four years ($2,000 per semester) to make her dreams of teaching a reality. “I’m extremely looking forward to the journey of preparing to become a teacher,” she shared. “It is something I have been waiting for ever since I knew becoming a teacher is what I wanted to be. I can’t wait to continue learning more about my major and discovering new interests along the way. With this new journey, it will prepare me to help future generations with their education.”

As Mauricio and the other scholars prepare for college in the fall, the Foundation would like to acknowledge the following donor funds and/or their family who made these scholarship grants possible:

* Al Jerald Saladana Scholarship Fund
* Ben Parra Scholarship Fund
* Carmen Tindall Wilson Scholarship Fund
* John G. and Lillian M. Walsh Family Scholarship Fund
* Ken and Janice Forbes Geil Scholarship Fund
* Larry D. Mitchell Memorial Scholarship Fund
* Richard and Doris Sayles Family Scholarship Fund

Members of the community are invited to start their own fund in support of community interests with Placer Community Foundation. To get started, visit: https://placercf.org/start-a-fund/.