CHC Foundation Awards $100,000 in Scholarships

The Crafton Hills College Foundation recognized 110 scholarship recipients during the 2019 Scholars Convocation ceremony held on campus on Friday, May 17.

Students selected for their respective award had to meet a list of criteria set in place to be considered. Criteria mostly focused on their academic successes.

“Scholars convocation is a highlight for the CHC Foundation as it really is the fruition of our mission,” said Michelle Riggs, CHC’s director of community relations and resource development. “I am so thankful to the scholarship sponsors who believe in our students.”

Students are encouraged to apply for a series of scholarships available every year, including two new scholarship opportunities established in recognition of some of Crafton’s longtime leaders.

The two new scholarship prizes are the Gordon Clopine Memorial Scholarship and the Betty Jo Woods Memorial Scholarship. Clopine was a geology professor and administrator with the San Bernardino Community College District for 36 years. A Redlands resident, he retired from Crafton Hills College in 1997. The criteria are having completed two earth science classes at Crafton, planning to transfer to a 4-year university, majoring in one of the earth sciences and a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

Betty Jo Wood worked at Crafton Hills College from 2006-2012 and was always a staunch supporter of students and a welcoming face on campus. After she retired, she served on the CHC Foundation Board and was a President’s Circle member, until she passed away in January 2019. The criteria for the Betty Jo Wood Memorial Scholarship are to be a continuing CHC student or transferring to a 4-year University, having a 3.0 or higher grade point average, and preference given to students who have overcome significant obstacles in completing their education. Involvement with clubs and organizations on campus and service to the community is desired.

In addition to the many memorials scholarships awarded, ten students received $1,000 scholarships from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians as part of the ISEEK grant awarded to the Foundation earlier this year. The criteria for the ISEEK scholarship includes being engaged in clubs, student employment, and/or college events.

Scholarships available are funded through the CHC Foundation and totaled $100,100 this year.

Prior to the May 17 announcement, scholarship recipients were asked to fill out an application online to be considered for the series of awards. Scholarship criteria is set by donors, and the foundation uses a special software to match students to the awards, Riggs said. From there, a scholarship review committee made up of staff, faculty and foundation directors review and rank applicants, she said.

The mission of the CHC Foundation is to enhance educational excellence through the promotion of gifts to support and enhance quality education opportunities on campus.