Sierra College Patrons Announce Grant Recipients

Rocklin, Calif. – The Patrons, a volunteer arm of the Sierra College Foundation is pleased to announce the awarding of more than $5,000 in program grants benefiting the Arts and Humanities programs of Sierra College in Rocklin, CA.

Under the auspices of the Sierra College Foundation, established as a nonprofit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) in 1973, the Patrons solicit grant requests from Sierra College Arts and Humanities programs. Twice each year grants are awarded based on the recommendations of the Patrons’ Board of Directors and voted on by the membership.

Formed in 1984, the Patrons group has as its sole focus providing financial support to the Arts and Humanities departments at Sierra College.  Grants are designed to directly affect students as much as possible.  In addition to the grants enumerated below, a $500 scholarship is awarded annually to a student in the arts including Music, Art and Drama.  Three small awards of $50 each recognize outstanding students competing in the annual student art show.  Further grants may be awarded during the year to enhance the services offered by academic departments.  Since its inception, the Patrons have donated more than $275,000 to Sierra College affecting and improving all aspects of campus life.

Grant recipients for Spring are as follows:

The Theatre Arts program has been awarded funds to purchase body microphones to be utilized by lead actors in the musical productions presented by the department.  This grant will allow the department to supply the needs of actors without having to resort to expensive rentals.

The Art Department has been awarded funds, which will enable them to invite public artists to the campus to enrich the learning experiences of the art students.  Both artists who will be invited to visit the campus have public art installations in the Sacramento area.  Exposure to working artists provides a broader art experience to Sierra College students. 

In addition, the Art Department has been awarded funds to purchase a new potter’s wheel to be used by students in the ceramics department. Since many of the wheels that are currently utilized are more than 20 years old, the new wheel will provide additional experience and practice with new technology.

English as a Second Language (ESL) has received a grant, which will allow for the purchase of equipment used by foreign speakers to demonstrate their proficiency in understanding spoken English.  The teacher uses student responses to assess their individual progress.

A special grant has been awarded to the Sierra College Veterans Support Program featuring Boots to Books, an Introduction to College for Veterans. Directed by Catherine Morris, who is herself a veteran with 15 years of service, the veterans program is one of the most comprehensive in the nation, offering our returning service personnel valuable assistance as they transition from the military to college life and beyond.  The program seeks to help returning veterans establish new relationships with fellow classmates and with the community.  Ideally veterans involved in the program transition to non-military careers or to local universities for further training.

Congratulations to all grant recipients.

The Sierra College Patrons hold monthly meetings on the first Monday of each month.  The public is welcome to attend and to participate.  Annual dues are $40. And a number of fundraisers are held throughout the year, the largest of which is the Crab Feed, which is held during the month of February at the Blue Goose Event Center in Loomis.