The Scholarship Foundation has awarded college scholarships totaling more than $7.7 million to 2,125 Santa Barbara County students for the 2025-26 academic year. Most high school seniors were notified of their awards on April 25 and 29; all other recipients were notified on May 15. Of the $7,714,655 awarded this year, $3,722,847 will help support… Read more »
Ten standout organizations and individuals will be honored during the 2025 South Coast Business & Technology (SCBT) Awards ceremony on June 17 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. The annual awards recognize innovation, leadership, and success in the area’s business and technology sectors. Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Scholarship Foundation. This… Read more »
The Scholarship Foundation officially marked the opening of its new Santa Maria office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 8. Hosted in partnership with the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, the event drew some 40 community members. “The Scholarship Foundation has long had a significant presence in Santa Maria, and our organization takes… Read more »
In recent years, critics of higher education have increasingly questioned its value, arguing that the cost of tuition often outweighs the benefits of a college degree. In response, education advocates have begun to push back, offering counter narratives that emphasize the obvious virtues and time-tested benefits of the country’s colleges and universities. Much of the… Read more »
Gina Carbajal began serving as chief programs officer at the Scholarship Foundation in December 2024. A native of Los Angeles, Gina completed her undergraduate studies at UCSB before earning a master’s degree in public administration at Cal State Northridge. Immediately prior to joining the Scholarship Foundation, she served as development director for Special Olympics in… Read more »
The first months of 2025 have been an especially busy time at the Scholarship Foundation. I thought I would take a moment and briefly highlight some of our recent successes. I am pleased to report that our Art Scholarship program remains very popular with both students and the wider public. In fact, we successfully expanded… Read more »
The Scholarship Foundation has received 3,299 applications for financial assistance during the 2025-26 academic year. The applications are currently under review, and awardees will be announced in April and May. Last year the Scholarship Foundation awarded more than $7.1 million to 1,787 students throughout Santa Barbara County. “The high number of applications received this year… Read more »
As part of an effort to expand its longstanding art scholarship program, the Scholarship Foundation honored a dozen student artists during a reception at the California Nature Art Museum in Solvang on February 13. The 12 seniors at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School had taken part in the Foundation’s inaugural Santa Ynez Valley Art… Read more »
The Scholarship Foundation honored 20 student artists during a presentation and reception at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art on February 6. Selected as winners of the Foundation’s 2025 Art Scholarship Competition, the students addressed family members and supporters in the museum’s Mary Craig Auditorium. Each will receive a scholarship, and their selected art submissions… Read more »
More than 300 people turned out for the Scholarship Foundation’s 2024 Community Leaders Luncheon at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort on December 6. The annual event recognizes Scholarship Foundation supporters, volunteers, and community partners. Featured speakers this year included Dr. Peter Rupert, executive director of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project, and Billie Maunz, former… Read more »
