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English Instructor Karren Warren , Karl Pister Scholarship winner Celina Rose Gutierrez , and Gavilan College President Dr . Steven M . Kinsella

Community provides $ 112,000 in scholarships to Gavilan College students

On May 8 , 2015 , The Gavilan College Education Foundation and Gavilan College Office of Financial Aid awarded $ 112,000 in scholarships to Gavilan College students . Thanks to the generosity of donors in the community , 105 awards were given . Some awards were designated for specific fields of study , while others were more general .

The largest award , presented annually , is the Karl S . Pister Leadership Award of $ 20,000 over two years for a student who will be transferring to U . C . Santa Cruz in the fall .
The 2015 winner of the award , English major Celina Rose Gutierrez is a re-entry student and parent , who has served the Gavilan College community as an assistant in the Writing Center . In the greater community , she has volunteered with El Teatro Campesino and the nonprofit organization Andariegas . Her English instructor , Karen Warren , described her as as “ one of those students who is committed to using her knowledge and skills to make a difference , not only in her own life but also to change the community she cares so deeply about ” and added that Celina is “ one of the most intelligent , determined ,
hard-working and positive students I have worked with .”
In her personal statement , Celina highlighted the importance of scholarships for students like her : “ This scholarship would allow me to fulfill my goals of completing my education and obtaining my Bachelor ’ s degree to ultimately be a better provider for my family .... I know that going back to school is the right choice for me and I am immensely proud of my academic achievements ... this scholarship will be a lifeline for me and my family .”
A new scholarship that was offered this year as well , the Eunice J . Picetti Memorial Scholarship , was awarded to twelve students . The scholarship fund is a result of the largest bequest ever left to Gavilan College : $ 190,000 from the estate of Fulton Picetti , a 1936 graduate of San Benito Junior College to create a scholarship fund in his sister ’ s name . Picetti was a Hollister resident who transferred form San Benito Junior College to Stanford , where he earned a B . A . in Economics . He served as a Lt . Colonel in the U . S . Army and was an owner of Picetti and Anderson Insurance Agency in Hollister .
Scholarships are awarded through the Gavilan College Office of Financial Aid . For information about creating a scholarship , go to gavilan John . edu Garcia / finaid . Go to : gavilan . edu / pio / pressrelease . php ? pr = 735 for complete list of 2015 scholarships .
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JULY / AUGUST 2015 gmhtoday . com