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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Benito County Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Hosts A Successful Scholarship Awards Night
May 15, 2024
San Benito County, CA
On Wednesday, May 10, the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce & Foundation celebrated its 3rd annual in-person Scholarship Awards Night hosted at Swank Farms Barn in Hollister, CA.
The SBC Chamber Foundation proudly awarded 16 graduating seniors with $29,000 in scholarships through its Pathways Empowerment Program to students from Hollister High School.
All scholarship recipients received a Certificate of Scholarship from the SBC Chamber Foundation, and Certificates of Recognition of Scholarship from Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas’ and Senator Anna Caballero’s offices. Senior Field Representative Andres Rodriguez, of Assembly Speaker Rivas’ office, joined us on stage as we presented students with their scholarships and certificates.
Students and their families enjoyed a full program including dinner by La Catrina, sponsored by a grant from the Intero Foundation. Putting together an in-person event would not have been possible without the support of our community partners and event sponsors. Thank you to our event sponsors:
Event Host: Swank Farms
Dinner Sponsor: Intero Foundation
DJ/Entertainment sponsor: Maria Cid Agency- Farmers Insurance
Beverages: Felice Consulting Services
Slideshow Presentation Sponsor: Bay Federal Credit Union
Photobooth Sponsor: AG Entertainment
Dessert Sponsor: Bake That Dough
Program/Print Sponsor: Hollister Child Development Center & Silicon Valley ABA and Consulting Services
To apply for the scholarships, students submitted application packets that included three letters of recommendation, a transcript, an activity sheet, a personal statement, and an essay regarding their career objective. Students were selected based on the requirements outlined in the named scholarship donors' criteria.
Named scholarships were presented by, Amazon, Teknova, The County of San Benito, Maria Cid Agency- Farmers Insurance, Makplate, Latino Family Fund, and Infinity Staffing. “We know that when we invest in our youth, we invest in our community and our future,” said Kathy Duong, Public Policy Manager at Amazon. “Amazon is honored to support these talented and hardworking students who demonstrate the spirit of innovation and technological leadership, showing us that the future is bright for San Benito County.”
Thank you to DJ Tomas Carillo for providing professional DJ services. New this year- paired with a digital slideshow, the students and presenters selected walk-on songs to play as they approached the stage to accept/present their scholarships. Regarding the walk-on songs, Zain Yahya, President of Makplate said, “It was such a great idea, it felt like you knew something about each person a little more.”
Heartwarming speeches were delivered by donors of the scholarship fund. “We’re honored to partner with the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the accomplishments of so many talented, hardworking, and committed San Benito County high school students, and to support them and their families as they plan for this next chapter in their lives,” said Rakesh Ahuja, Teknova’s Vice President of Quality and Regulatory, who presented five STEM scholarships on behalf of the company. “Our scholarship recipients are pursuing studies in aerospace engineering, forensic sciences, kinesiology, and psychology, and we can’t wait to see all that they will accomplish. Congratulations to our Teknova scholarship recipients, and to the rest of the Class of 2024!”
Michelle Leonard, Chamber CEO enthusiastically expressed “how honored the Chamber family felt to count on the community’s support to bring crucial financial assistance to these students as they pursue their careers and become the next generation of leaders in San Benito County.”
The 2024 scholarship recipients will pursue career pathways that range from engineering, healthcare, education, business, computer science, political science, and more. The SBC Chamber and Foundation firmly believes that investing in our community's youth contributes to the overall economic and social well-being of San Benito County. As such, we have a commitment to support all pathways of success including college, vocational, trade, and technical careers.
The continued success of the Pathways Empowerment Program is a result of the community’s generosity and strong partnerships and support received from Mary Andrade and Hollister High School. Special thank you to our Chamber staff, Board members, and Ambassadors who helped to ensure the evening was memorable for all students, sponsors, and those in attendance.
The SBC Chamber Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that works in tandem with the SBC Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Center to promote and celebrate the economic vitality of San Benito County. The SBC Chamber Foundation’s pillars focus on equity, sustainability, empowerment, and cooperation while providing scholarships and financial support for SBC students pursuing college, vocational, or technical career pathways. The Foundation also supports small business advocacy, tourism, youth empowerment, and leadership development for all members of the community.
Michelle Leonard, CEO/President
San Benito County Chamber of Commerce
ceo@sanbenitocountychamber.com
831.637.5315
243 Sixth Street, Suite 100
Hollister, CA 95023
www.sanbenitocountychamber.com
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