Alan Shattuck, photography student; Dr. Greg Gillespie, Ventura College president; Amy Fonzo, California Resources Corporation; Patty Mazuca, veterans certifying official; Perry B. Martin Jr., Veterans Resource Center liaison and Anthony Castillo, president of the VC Veteran’s Club receiving large contribution.
California Resources Corporation celebrated Veteran’s Day and the one-year anniversary of the Ventura College Veterans Resource Center with an award of $25,000 to launch an endowment for annual scholarships to the college’s students who are veterans.
“Creating a scholarship endowment specifically for veterans demonstrates the crucial role that Ventura College and all community colleges play in supporting our veteran population,” said John Woolley, Ed.D., chair of the Ventura College Foundation Board of Directors. “This is an important step toward creating a strong vision for how the college can best serve our veteran students’ educational needs and help them in preparing for their future.”
In its first year, the Center helped more than 320 self-declared veterans and their families, and many more who have not disclosed their veteran status, define and achieve their educational goals.
Plans call for the endowment to award a $1,000 scholarship each year in perpetuity, with the goal of increasing the number of designated scholarships over time.
“California Resources Corporation is committed to keeping veterans a priority in the communities in which we work and live,” said Amy Fonzo, CRC’s manager of external communications. “This was the perfect opportunity for CRC to establish an endowment so that veteran students can continue to achieve their educational aspirations while transitioning back into civilian life. Our goal has always been to engage proactively with our neighbors and serve as a supportive community partner.”
Los Angeles-based CRC has an office in Santa Paula, and earlier donated a great deal of office furniture for the staff and students to use.
In 2014, Ventura College Foundation awarded 15 scholarships to veteran students under its existing scholarship programs. With CRC’s endowment, the foundation hopes to establish a broader base of scholarships so they can help more veterans pursue their chosen area of study.
For more information about scholarship funds and other giving opportunities, contact the Ventura College Foundation at www.venturacollege.edu/foundation.
