The California Gold Coast chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is offering two $500 scholarships to recognize outstanding individual college students who are committed to studying communication or public relations in the Tri-Counties area.

“We believe that academic endeavors are essential for individuals to reach their full potential.” said Nancy Mayerson, PRSA California Gold Coast Chapter scholarship committee chair. “For that reason, our chapter is encouraging students to attend a four-year institution and reach higher educational achievement.” 

The chapter raised funds for the scholarships through program meeting fees and sponsorships, and hopes to grow the scholarship fund as the chapter grows.

“We believe that the heart of a successful PR career is service to one’s community, so we’re seeking students who have both high academic achievement and a solid commitment to community service,” Mayerson said.

“So many worthy organizations rely on public relations and community outreach to fulfill their mission, and we want to see our young professionals helping to make a difference,” she said.

Applications are being accepted through April 30. Winners will be announced in July. To be eligible for the scholarships, students must:

• Be a student currently enrolled in a four-year institution of higher education accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and located in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo or Ventura county.

• Have a 3.0 GPA minimum.

• Have a declared major in public relations or communication.

• Be in good academic standing with his/her educational institution.

• Have not received a PRSA scholarship in the past.

Find more information and an application online at www.prsagoldcoast.org. Direct questions to Mayerson at nancy@mayersonmarketing.com.

PRSA is a nonprofit chartered in 1947 and the world’s largest organization of public relations professionals with more than 21,000 public relations and communications professionals across the U.S. The California Gold Coast Chapter was founded in 2014 and serves Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. For more, visit www.prsagoldcoast.org.

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Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has opened this year’s scholarship application process for college-bound high school students as well as current college and continuing students living in northern and central California.

More than 200 awards totaling nearly $700,000 are being made available through PG&E Scholarships, which includes the Better Together STEM Scholarship and employee resource group (ERG) scholarship programs.

PG&E Scholarships information, including criteria and applications, is available at www.pge.com. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 5.

Better Together STEM Scholarship recipients will receive a one-time scholarship of $10,000 to assist in their pursuit of higher education in engineering, computer science, cybersecurity or environmental sciences. ERG scholarship beneficiaries will receive awards from $1,000 to $10,000 for exemplary scholastic achievement and community leadership.

Since 2012, PG&E’s Better Together STEM Scholarship Program has given nearly $3.6 million to accomplished students based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, personal triumph, financial need and academic achievement.

Since 1989, PG&E’s 10 ERGs have awarded more than $4.5 million in scholarships to thousands of recipients. The funds are raised through employee donations, fundraising events and Campaign for the Community, the company’s employee giving program.

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Many seniors at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School were celebrated for their academic and athletic scholarship accomplishments during an awards ceremony in the New Gym on campus on Wednesday, May 18. The students and their families and organizations and individuals who created the scholarship opportunities came together to hand out the certificates.

“My husband and I were able to attend college because of this opportunity and when we married 10 years ago it was a goal of ours to create a scholarship to help give back. This is our seventh year now and we are so thrilled to help the students achieve higher learning,” said Jody Colt, of Solvang, with her husband Chris.

Of the hundreds of scholarships more than $300,000 was awarded to SYVUHS students from local scholarships and from foundations such as the Valley Foundation and the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara according to event organizer Alisha Holley, registrar at SYVUHS.

Tanner Shean was awarded the Austin Bartoo Athletic Memorial Scholarship among several awarded, in memory of Austin Bartoo, a former student at the high school who passed away last year from injuries resulting from a car accident. His sister Shannon Strange (Bartoo) handed him the scholarship which means a great deal to her family and she indicated it would be what her brother would want.

Coach Josh McClurg hugged Tim Gauthier tightly when he handed him the Jeff Rio Memorial Scholarship and said he embodied Rio. Austin Vreeland earned big cheers from the crowd when he accepted several scholarships from the SYHS Football Boosters and Most Valuable Male Athlete of the Year.

Below is a list of all the scholarship winners.

Most Inspirational Female Athlete of the Year: Brooke Redell

 Most Inspirational Male Athlete of the Year: Connor Epley

Most Valuable Female Athlete of the Year: Eliza Nash

Most Valuable Male Athlete of the Year: Johnny Jimenez

US Army Scholar/Athlete Awards

Blane Heming & Savannah Avery

US Marine Corps Athlete/Academic Awards

Distinguished Athlete Awards

·         Austin Vreeland

·         Madison Snow

Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence

·         Nicholas Seaman

Scholastic Excellence Award

·         Abigail Mullin

US Air Force Academic Awards

Math Award

·         Clara Jones

Science Award

·         Westin Kelsey

Outstanding Academic Achievement

·         Tanner Shean

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