The Scholarship Foundation honored hundreds of area students at consecutive awards ceremonies on May 21 and 22. Approximately 550 people attended the Foundation’s South County Scholarship Awards Ceremony on May 21 at the Courthouse Sunken Garden in Santa Barbara, while approximately 650 people attended the organization’s North County Scholarship Awards Ceremony on May 22 at Allan Hancock College. The annual events recognize new and returning Scholarship Foundation recipients. Attendees at each ceremony included students, parents, educators, and community leaders.

Scholarship Foundation Board Chair Danna McGrew was a featured speaker at both events, along with Ernesto Paredes on May 21 and Phil Alvarado on May 22. Messrs. Paredes and Alvarado are Santa Barbara Foundation trustees. The Santa Barbara Foundation contributed more than $900,000 in scholarship funds this year, and is one of the Scholarship Foundation’s largest partners. Scholarship Foundation President and CEO Melinda Cabrera also addressed attendees at both ceremonies.

This year the Scholarship Foundation will award college and vocational scholarships totaling more than $7.1 million to 1,784 students throughout the county.

“It was truly inspiring to meet the students who are benefiting from our assistance. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients and their families!” said Ms. Cabrera.