Scholarships

This scholarship was established by CSUB Music Department Chair Dr. Doug Davis, in honor of his wife Adele Davis. Davis graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in elementary education in 1961. She began her career in Ventura, California teaching first grade. Although she taught all grades, she loved first grade the most. While serving in the U.S. Army School System, Davis was able to teach in several parts of the world, from Germany to Crete. In Bakersfield, she joined the Panama Buena Vista School District, where she taught her last 30 years of first grade. Davis, along with her husband, was a big supporter of the CSUB Jazz Fest and overall jazz music program at CSUB. She was a recipient of many teaching awards, including the Outstanding Teacher of the Year, and is remembered for her kindness and being a supporter of the arts.

The American Foundation for Arts Education, formerly The Dr. Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts, was founded by Broadway legend Carol Channing and her late husband, Harry Kullijian. In 2010, the Congress and Senate of the United States unanimously passed House Resolution 275, designating the second week of September National Arts in Education Week, and endorsing the vital need for an arts education in our schools, inspired by the work of Channing and Kullijian.

Kullijian was raised and educated in San Francisco and entered the military in 1942 upon graduation from the University of San Francisco. He earned three battle stars including China, Burma and India. He returned home and became a real estate broker and building contractor before being recalled to the European theater of operations during the Korean conflict. He also served as the mayor of Modesto, California while also becoming one of the founders of CLEAN (Citizens Leading Effective Action Now).

Channing was an American actress, singer, dancer, comedian and voice artist. She won the Golden Globe Award and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Muzzy Van Hossmere in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (1967).

On television, she has made many appearances as an entertainer on variety shows, from “The Ed Sullivan Show” in the 1950s to “Hollywood Squares.” Channing was nominated for her first Tony Award in 1956 for “The Vamp.” Her second nomination came in 1961 for “Show Girl.” In 1964, she originated the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi in “Hello, Dolly!,” winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She received her fourth Tony Award nomination for the musical “Lorelei” in 1974. “Lorelei” was a re-imagining of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” a 1949 musical that also starred Channing in the lead role of Lorelei Lee, which made her a star. Channing was inducted to the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981, and received a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 1995. She continued to perform and make appearances, singing songs from her repertoire and sharing stories with fans, cabaret style.

Audrey K. Bender was born and raised in Shafter, California. Bender was one of the highest performing economics majors at CSUB. She was a lifelong student who learned the value of determination from her family. Bender's interest in economics, international trade and commodity markets grew from her family's third-generation farming background in Shafter. Bender passed away from a traffic accident in July 1988. The Audrey K. Bender Memorial Endowment was established by her family and friends to honor her memory.

The Appraisal Institute is a global membership association of professional real estate appraisers, with nearly 25,000 members and 91 chapters throughout the world. Its mission is to advance professionalism and ethics, global standards, methodologies and practices through the professional development of property economics worldwide. Organized in 1932, the Appraisal Institute advocates equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in the appraisal profession and conducts its activities in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Members of the Appraisal Institute benefit from an array of professional education and advocacy programs, and may hold the prestigious MAI, SRPA and SRA designations. The Bakersfield Chapter of the Appraisal Institute established this scholarship to promote academic excellence in CSUB's School of Business and Public Administration.

This memorial scholarship was established by the Bakersfield ARC in honor of Ben Schneider, to support CSUB students studying special education. Bakersfield ARC is a nonprofit organization that has been providing essential job training, employment and support services for the intellectually and developmentally disabled and their families since 1949.

Benjamin Schneider visited the Bakersfield ARC headquarters and was impressed with it. Unbeknownst to Bakersfield ARC, Schneider granted Bakersfield ARC a part of his estate upon his death. He passed away on July 3, 2009. Schneider is remembered as a giving individual who greatly believed in Bakersfield ARC and in the community.

The Bernard Osher Foundation, headquartered in San Francisco, was founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a respected businessperson and community leader. The foundation seeks to improve quality of life through support for higher education and the arts.

The Osher Foundation has generously established a $500,000 endowment at CSUB for upper-division students who transfer from a California community college.

In addition to supporting CSUB, the foundation provides post-secondary scholarship funding to colleges and universities across the nation, with special attention to reentry students. The Osher initiative for California community college students, launched in 2008, provides up to $100 million in endowed funds to support scholarship programs dedicated to California's community college students.

The foundation benefits programs in integrative medicine in the United States and Sweden, including centers at University of California, San Francisco; Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston; and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. In addition, the foundation supports a national lifelong learning network for seasoned adults. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, operating on the campuses of 115 institutions of higher education from Maine to Hawaii and Alaska, have a National Resource Center at the University of Southern Maine.

Finally, an array of performing arts organizations, museums and selected educational programs in Northern California, and in Osher's native state of Maine, receive foundation grants.

This scholarship was established by Bright House Networks, formerly known as Time Warner Cable, to help support their annual music scholarship. In addition to donating television advertising to support the Bakersfield Jazz Festival at CSUB, Bright House Networks donated funds to establish an endowed scholarship for an incoming first-year student who plans to participate in the jazz program.

Bright House Networks is the sixth largest owner and operator of cable systems in the U.S. and the second largest in Florida, with technologically-advanced systems located in California, Florida, Alabama, Indiana and Michigan. Bright House Networks serves approximately 2.5 million customers who subscribe to one or more of its video, high-speed data, home security and automation and voice services.

Dr. Cheryl Worden Maglischo was a retired college teacher who had a distinguished career as an educator, mentor, author and researcher. She and her husband, Hall of Fame coach Dr. Ernest Maglischo, had been married for 34 years. Dr. Cheryl Maglischo authored numerous articles on various topics, many which encompassed the sport of swimming. Topics included the biomechanical analysis of the distance freestylers on the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team and a study of the relationship between the forward velocity of the center of gravity and the hip in the four strokes.

She also created a software program for biomechanical analysis published in 1991. After receiving her Ph.D. at Ohio State University, Dr. Maglischo joined the Department of Physical Education at California State University, Chico in 1965, where she taught until 1994, receiving a distinguished teacher award and retiring as a professor emeritus. She taught kinesiology, biomechanics, adaptive physical education, and ballroom social dancing. Her students reportedly loved her dance classes.

After leaving Chico State, she moved to Arizona with her husband, where she taught and served as director of research at the Arizona School of Health Sciences. Her accomplishments in her research and in swimming are outweighed by the students she inspired and taught. Dr. Maglischo had a great passion and love for people and swimming. This memorial scholarship was started by her husband to honor her memory.

This scholarship was founded by Chrissy Mettler's family. Chrissy Mettler was born May 12, 1988, in Kwangju, South Korea. She came home to her forever family, parents Steve and Sharon Mettler, and older brother Matt Mettler, via LAX September 13, 1988.

Mettler attended Olive Drive Elementary, Norris Middle School, Concordia Korean Language School in Minnesota, and Centennial High School. She graduated from CSUB with a bachelor's degree in communications. After finishing high school, she went to work part-time for a local law firm, working her way to full-time marketing coordinator before her death at the age of 26.

She was a gifted athlete and loved the friends she made through sports. She danced and participated in karate while very young. She skied the fall line when she was 4, easily transitioning to snowboarding. She played softball, swam and played tennis. After her older brother showed her how to throw the discus while she was in middle school, she took first place. Loved ones stated she “ran like the wind” in soccer, later joining Centennial High School's junior varsity soccer team. Having a natural golf swing, she participated in the Kern County Junior Golf Association and played on Centennial High School's Valley Championship golf team.

Besides her many friends, a great love in Mettler's life was music of all kinds. She also loved to travel, joining friends and family for trips from the beaches of Cancun and the canals of Holland to the temples of South Korea.

When she was 19, she received a series of vaccinations meant to prevent her from contracting cervical cancer in her old age. She almost immediately noticed symptoms that led to her being diagnosed by UCLA Medical Center physicians as aplastic anemia. UCLA kept her alive for over 5 years, during which she completed her bachelor's degree in communications. She died from complications of a bone marrow transplant shortly after sunrise on Sunday, December 14, 2014, in UCLA's intensive care unit.

Mettler had a delightful sense of humor and the ability to see the absurd. Courageous and uncomplaining, loved ones said she maintained her lovely disposition throughout her life, leaving a hole beyond measure in many lives.

She spent a great deal of time with the medical profession, receiving attentive care and concern from UCLA Medical Center. Just before her death, she was exploring colleges where she could earn a second bachelor's degree in nursing.

Her family believes this to be a fitting memorial to a wonderful daughter and sister. It is given in her memory and in appreciation for the care she received at UCLA Medical Center.

Calling her scholarship “The Chrissy” is very much in character for her. Her family would appreciate that designation.

Claude Fiddler was born in Pasadena, California on July 27, 1932 to Claude and Agnes Fiddler. He attended Occidental College on a track and field scholarship, where he excelled as a long-distance runner and was later inducted into the Occidental College Hall of Fame.

He earned a bachelor's degree in geology in 1954. In 1958, he earned a master's degree in geology from the California Institute of Technology. Later, Claude attended the University of Southern California and in 1967, he received a master's degree in petroleum engineering. He was licensed as both a geologist and a petroleum engineer.

Fiddler was a retired commander of the U. S. Naval Reserve. He was a member of Southern Sierra Council Boy Scouts of America. Fiddler utilized his education to become a geology instructor at Taft College and lecturer at University of Southern California.

He worked as a geology and petroleum engineer consultant and was employed by Chevron Corporation from 1958-91. Later in his life, Fiddler was a director at Kern County Employees Retirement Association. His love of geological field work lives on through his children Linda and David, who established this endowment in his name.

This fund was established by Audrey Cochran, who was the second student to receive a master's degree in nursing at CSUB, writing her master's thesis on continence. She is a clinical specialist in gerontological nursing and a certified continence care nurse. Cochran is also the owner of Health Care Planning and Education for the Elderly. Her company is a subsidiary of AgingCare.com, the leading online community that helps family members with the world of elder care. She has a strong love in seeing elders take control of their lives and she established this scholarship to stimulate awareness and interest in her field of work.

This scholarship was established by the California Teachers Association (CTA) Sierra Service Center Council, with funds derived from the Excellence in Teaching Conference for CSUB students in association with their program. Sierra Service Center serves as a liaison between the CTA and its local chapter affiliates in the greater Kern County area. Founded in 1863, the CTA has become one of the strongest advocates for educators in the country. CTA includes teachers, counselors, school librarians, social workers, psychologists and nurses who work for more than 1,000 school districts. These educators in the K-12 school system are joined by community college faculty, California State University faculty, and education support professionals to make CTA the most inclusive and most powerful voice of educators in the state.

This annual scholarship was established by George and Manuela Zaninovich to honor their late mother, Dorothy, who was a very passionate supporter of the arts. Dorothy Florence Zaninovich was born in San Diego, California. She was the only child of Andrew and Matilda Petrasich. She was a graduate of Tulare Union High School and Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She taught school for a short time before marrying her husband, Vincent M. Zaninovich, in 1948.

Zaninovich was very active in the Delano community. She was a longtime parishioner of Saint Mary's Church and participated in many activities at the church and at Saint Mary's School. She served on the Delano cemetery board for many years. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. She was also a longtime member of California Women for Agriculture. Zaninovich enjoyed many hobbies, including singing in the church choir, dancing with her husband, listening to opera, playing bridge and doing crossword puzzles. She was a talented painter and needlepoint artist. She was a top-notch chef and cooked lunch every day for her sons up until her 80s.

In later years, she loved to spend time near the ocean at her condo in Morro Bay. Loved ones stated that her generosity knew no bounds. She loved a good joke and had a sharp sense of humor. Family said she will be remembered as a beautiful, vivacious woman with a heart of gold.

For 26 years, Dr. Doug Davis has been sharing his musical talents with the California State University community and beyond as a professor of composition and director of the jazz ensemble. CSUB jazz groups are consistently among the best at the largest competitive collegiate jazz festival in the western United States, having won in the small group category seven times. In addition, they have twice been awarded the top Community Big Band award and won the top honor as Four-Year Collegiate Big Band.

In the greater CSUB community, Dr. Davis is probably best known for leading the Bakersfield Jazz Festival. For over 20 years, this two-day event has regularly featured Grammy-winning and poll-winning artists along with student and local groups. Dr. Davis graduated summa cum laude from University of Tennessee and studied at Harvard University, where he received his M.A. and Ph.D in musical composition. Dr. Davis is a recipient of the prestigious Harvard Graduate Prize, the Arts Council Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement (1989) and the Outstanding Professor for California State University, Bakersfield (1997). In the spring of 2003, Dr. Davis received the prominent Wang Award for Excellence.

The Evan Bacon Memorial Scholarship in Computer Engineering was established to honor the life of Evan Bacon of Bakersfield, California, who passed away on Friday, December 29, 2017, at the young age of 31.

Becon attended CSUB from 2007 to 2012 and held the distinction of being the first graduate of the computer engineering program. He then attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, to earn a master's degree in electrical engineering. In 2014, he moved to San Diego to work as a software engineer, first at General Atomics followed by Northrop Grumman. While employed at Northrop Grumman, Bacon continued his education, completing the Systems Engineering Certificate Program at The California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

During Bacon's years at CSUB, he was employed as a student technician and took on any opportunity to learn new things. He especially enjoyed working on research projects in computer science, mentoring students who participated in research programs and leading the summer robotics program for high school students. Bacon always had a boundless curiosity and a love for learning about a stunning range of topics, from history to woodworking, from computer programming to genetics.

Bacon will be deeply missed by all who knew him. However, his love of learning will live on through this scholarship.

This scholarship was established to honor the legacy of a beloved gentleman and friend. Faust Gorham was a Central Valley native and a first-generation college student. He was cherished by his friends, family, and colleagues who were all heartbroken when he succumbed to cancer in October 2023 at the age of 52. His wife and three children were his greatest joy, and his devotion to education was his proudest achievement.

Faust made the world and the people he touched better with his friendship and advocacy. He was passionate about his profession and serving others, and he saw every person as someone who deserved the opportunity to grow, use their talents, and become their very best self. Countless people had the courage to believe in themselves because Faust himself believed in them. He led with imagination, a collaborative, audacious spirit, and deep compassion.

Faust was an exceptional chef, wine connoisseur, Eagle Scout, Star Wars fanatic, 49er and Giants fan, and Lake Tahoe devotee, who loved hosting epic Halloween parties. A tremendously generous host, Faust believed that one of the best ways to bond with others was over good food and great wine.

He exemplified leadership with kindness and genuine concern for the wellbeing and successes of his team and students. Faust was known as a consummate professional who was held in the highest esteem by his colleagues and those who worked with him throughout the CSU system, culminating in his posthumous CSUB Doctor of Science.

Faust knew that education was the key to transforming one’s life and providing opportunities for one’s future; he often said, “access to a university education is a right, not a privilege.” In this spirit, this scholarship is offered to first-generation STEM students who will continue Faust’s legacy.

Dr. George Ablin was a neurosurgeon and CSUB professor, and Millie Ablin was a registered nurse and passionate supporter of CSUB.

Dr. Ablin was raised in Chicago, Illinois and received his B.S. and M.D. from the University of Michigan. Dr. Ablin interned at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana and did his residency at the University of Wisconsin. He was an instructor at the University of Michigan and later became a clinical professor at CSUB. Dr. Ablin was board certified in neurological surgery, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Dr. Ablin began practicing neurosurgery in Bakersfield in 1953. He was president of the Kern County Medical Society in 1984, and was very active in the California Medical Association in various leadership positions. He was treasurer of the California Medical Review Board and received distinguished service awards from the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Ablin served on the Kern County High School Board for 12 years. He was named honorary president of the World Neurological Society and in 1989, he was selected as the Kern County Physician of the Year. Dr. Ablin was the devoted father of seven children with his wife Millie.

Millie Ablin was a registered nurse who was an avid supporter of the community and CSUB. Millie Ablin served as a member of the Board of Directors of the CSUB Foundation. She was awarded an honorary CSUB degree. Additionally, an award in Excellence for Teaching was created in her honor; this award honors excellence in teaching and contributions made to students, academic disciplines and campus communities. Her love of education led her to support the schools of Social Sciences and Education and Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering. Both Dr. George Ablin and Millie Ablin loved and appreciated the fine arts. Millie Ablin was on the founding board of the CSUB Dore Theater.

Together, the couple was understanding of others, fostering relationships with hundreds of fellow academic and health care professionals, who they engaged with in warmth, gentleness and lively humor. They loved their colleagues, friends, community and CSUB.

Dr. Charlotte Anne Batey established the Gobalet-Batey Scholarship Endowment in honor of retired CSUB professor Dr. Kenneth Gobalet. The scholarship supports outstanding biology students. Dr. Batey is a medical practitioner in the field of urology and a former student in the CSUB Department of Biology. She credits her success to Dr. Gobalet, for he prepared her for medical school in his comparative vertebrate anatomy course; she said Dr. Gobalet inspired hundreds of students with his expertise and love of science.

Dr. Gobalet retired after over 30 years of university-level teaching. Prior to working at CSUB, he was on the faculty of Loyola University, New Orleans, and the University of Montana, Missoula. For 25 years, he was a professor of biology at CSUB, teaching courses in introductory zoology, evolution, comparative anatomy and human biology. For 35 years, his primary research agenda has been the identification and interpretation of ancient fish remains recovered during the excavation of archaeological sites within California. He prided himself on having commuted by bicycle to work for his entire career at CSUB.

Herman Weddle was a geologist with Standard Oil Company of California. He ended his 33-year career in 1962 as district development geologist for the northern region. Weddle graduated from University of California, Berkeley and started his career as a field geologist at a time when electric logs were experimental. He believed that regardless of technological advances in subsurface geology, it was always necessary for students to look at rocks. This scholarship was established in his memory by his son James Weddle, who wished to carry on his father's support of students utilizing the repository to further their education.

This memorial scholarship was established in honor of John Barber, a leading automobile businessperson in Bakersfield for almost 50 years. Barber Honda still bears his name today. He came to Bakersfield with his wife, Maxine, in 1948, at the urging of his brother Leo, who worked at Adams Motors, the local Pontiac dealership. John Barber worked his way up from the parts department to salesperson, sales manager and then general manager.

In 1955, John and Maxine Barber purchased the business from Adams' widow. From that point, Barber grew the company from one franchise into a multi-franchise company. Throughout the years, he bought and sold several franchises in Bakersfield including Pontiac, Honda, Isuzu, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Volvo, Jaguar, Volkswagen, Porsche, Subaru, Saab and Kia.

In 1977, Barber opened the first Honda dealership in Kern County. In 1985, Barber Honda was the first to set up shop in the Bakersfield Auto Mall, now the go-to place to buy an automobile locally. To this day, the dealership operates successfully based on the strong foundation built by John Barber.

This memorial scholarship was established by family and friends in honor of Joseph Wooldridge Esq., a respected attorney in the Bakersfield legal community, to support CSUB students with a career goal in law.

Wooldridge had a love for the practice of law. Just after passing the California bar exam, Wooldridge met fellow attorney John Young and they became partners. This friendship would become the foundation for one of Kern County's oldest and largest legal institutions, The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge.

Young Wooldridge has kept pace with Kern County's growth while earning an enviable reputation based on solid diversification in civil practice. The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP is a full service law firm which is committed to employing attorneys who are experienced, hardworking and dedicated to obtaining the best results for their clients. Most of all, the firm aims to continue Wooldridge's lifelong mission of providing the best legal experience for the community.

Dr. Kenneth Secor is the retired vice president of administration services and professor of mathematics at CSUB. As vice president of administration services until his retirement in 1995, Secor helped design the first complex that included the classroom building, lecture building, fine arts, performing arts, faculty towers, student services and library (now administration) and administration (now building for the Division of University Advancement).

Upon his retirement from CSUB, Dr. Secor, the university and community made gifts to an endowment fund to honor his work. Because of Dr. Secor's love of classical music and his support of the fine arts, earnings from the fund were designated for scholarship assistance to students in the choral music program. Dr. Secor attended University of California, Berkeley and was a partner with Hawley Mills Secor Consultants, a general partnership founded in 1996 on Dr. Secor's extensive background in engineering and public works. Dr. Secor is happily married to his wife Mary L. Secor.

The Kern County Sheriff's Reserves were first organized in 1939 to augment paid deputies during the wartime emergency. This was an experiment born of wartime necessity that proved entirely successful. In 1940, 35 volunteer reserves graduated from the first Reserve Academy. The Kern County Sheriff's Reserve Association is a non-profit, volunteer organization made up of individuals who are dedicated to public service and committed to improving the quality of life in our community. This scholarship was established by the Kern County Sheriff's Reserve Association to support CSUB students majoring in criminal justice and who have a desire to make a positive change in the community.

The mission of the Kevin Harvick Foundation is to support programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States. Established in 2010 by NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, the Kevin Harvick Foundation works to not only improve the quality of life, but to help underprivileged youth find and realize their dreams.

There are many children who have dreams of becoming a race car driver, a police officer, a doctor or scientist, but don't see a way to achieve those dreams, said Kevin Harvick. “DeLana and I want to provide opportunities to children who might not realize their potential and give them the courage to pursue their dreams.”

Harvick was born in Bakersfield. For his kindergarten graduation in 1980, Harvick received a go-kart and began his racing career. In the 10 years that he competed on the go-kart circuit, he learned the value of dedication and discovered the joy of success that would transform into the fierce determination that now defines him. On the track, the two-time Nationwide Series Champion and Daytona 500 winner is known for his aggressive driving, but off the track his affable attitude and ever present smile have earned him the nickname “Happy.”

DeLana Harvick's racing roots run deep. After visiting a race track at the tender age of 3 weeks old, she was hooked for life. She is a native of Kernersville, NC and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She began her professional career in racing as a public relations representative for Randy LaJoie. In 2001, DeLana and Kevin Harvick created Kevin Harvick, Inc., a premier racing organization competing full-time in the NASCAR Truck and Nationwide Series.

As a former student-athlete himself, Kevin Harvick values education and understands the difficulties that families may face in financially providing for their child's education. The Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship is an on-going, full-ride, need-based scholarship that will support a Kern County native athlete, enabling them to follow their dreams to obtain an undergraduate degree and participate in athletics at the collegiate level.

Leo B. Hart (1897-1989) grew up in Vinton, Iowa, where his mother taught in a rural school and his father operated a plumbing business by horse-drawn wagon. He served in France during World War I. Hart attended Arizona State University, graduating with a master's degree in education. He was offered a job in Bakersfield, taught high school there for a period of time, and then ran for county superintendent of schools. He was elected to his first term (he served two) in 1939, the same year that thousands of formerly successful farm families fled drought and dust storms in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri and other states. It was the same year that "The Grapes of Wrath" was published.

Hart is remembered as an amazing educator; while serving as county superintendent of schools, he helped many migrant children receive their education during the Dust Bowl. During this time, many migrant families moved to Kern County seeking a better life. Although the newcomers weren't wanted in existing schools, Hart was determined to provide migrant children with an education. In September of 1940, the Arvin Federal Emergency School was created by Hart. Hart believed all children deserve a quality education, and his accomplishments are still felt in Kern County's educational systems today.

Leo J. Pierucci was born in Bakersfield in 1917. He attended high school locally and then graduated from Bakersfield College in 1937. Pierucci undertook graduate studies in banking from University of Wisconsin, California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and University of California, Davis. He also served in the United States Army during World War II (1944-1945). He started his career in Bakersfield with Bank of America in 1937 and was still employed as a consultant with Mission Bank. Pierucci's passion was his work and family. He believed the most important aspect of banking was building strong relationships on the basis of trust and respect. He also loved Bakersfield and collected many photographs of the community that are still on display at Bakersfield College as part of the Leo J. Pierucci Historical Photos of Bakersfield Collection. Leo Pierucci was known as a kind gentleman who lives on through the memories of those he made an impact on.

Linda Sue Chaney's father was a farm laborer and her mother was a homemaker. As one of eight children, she saw her parents' work hard and sacrifice to ensure that each child received the best care and opportunities possible. Chaney completed her first two years toward a teaching career at Bakersfield College. After graduation, she transferred to San Jose State where she received a degree in secondary education in June 1966. After getting her degree, Chaney soon realized that she would be more effective as a teacher in the primary grades, so she returned to college. It took her 10 years to ultimately become an elementary school teacher — a profession in which she would consistently excel.

Chaney was known as an extraordinary person who was an excellent example of what can be accomplished in this country if an individual persists in their goal. The need for more dedicated teachers comparable to Linda Sue Chaney is unlimited.

The Linda Sue Chaney Living Memorial Educational Scholarship is an annual scholarship set up primarily to assist graduates from Delano Joint Union High School District who are enrolled in the education credential program at CSUB. However, if there are no candidates for the Linda Sue Chaney Living Memorial Scholarship from Delano, the scholarship will then be made available to all eligible students in the education credential program at CSUB to ensure full utilization.

The Marguerite and A.M. Thomas Memorial Education Scholarship was founded by Jeff and Michelle Huckaby (CSUB alumni Jeff '89 and Michelle '88, '92) to honor the memory and legacy of Michelle's paternal grandparents.

A.M. and Marguerite were married in 1932 at the height of the Depression and jobs were scarce. At the urging of A.M.'s brother and with his financial backing, they both went to college at Central State University in Edmund, Oklahoma, graduating in 1939.

After a brief teaching career in Oklahoma, the Thomases accepted positions at the Lost Hills School District in northwest Kern County in 1947. A.M. became the superintendent/principal and Marguerite the kindergarten teacher. Marguerite retired in 1977 after 30 years of service and A.M. retired the following year after 31 years of service. In 1997, shortly before A.M.'s death, the Lost Hills School District built and dedicated its cafeteria/auditorium in his honor, naming it the Thomas Pavilion. Additionally, at that time, they renamed the middle school to the A.M. Thomas Middle School in his honor.

Together, A.M. and Marguerite raised a family and built a life, instilling the value and importance of education to their children and grandchildren. Because education was so important to A.M. and Marguerite and to their children and grandchildren, this scholarship is being offered to education majors with priority given to applicants from the Lost Hills School District and Wasco High School.

The Mimi Deeths Memorial Scholarship was established in March 2004 at CSUB to honor Mary Catherine “Mimi” Deeths. Deeths' life was defined by her devotion to her family, her concern for others, the burdens and rewards imposed by her cancer, and her ability to still find time to nurture her faith, write and lead a full personal life. She never sought the spotlight and never put herself above others.

Deeths was born in Oak Park, Illinois on June 25, 1949. She married in 1970 and raised four children. During her illness, loved ones stated that she touched many with her quiet courage, undaunting faith, unending hope and abounding love. She leaves behind a tremendous legacy of faith, courage and hope.

Established in 1875, the original district housed a mere 11 students in makeshift lean-to structures at various locations. Today, the student population numbers over 17,000, and pupils from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade receive instruction in the most modern of facilities.

The Panama-Buena Vista Union School District is proud of its well-defined heritage which strongly correlates student assessment with classroom instruction. The state-adopted district curriculum is implemented by highly-qualified teachers who aim to improve student achievement. The district's mission is to provide quality learning opportunities for every student by supporting teachers through mentoring and high-quality professional development. Curriculum specialists, principals and categorical program specialists facilitate in-depth, structured and consistent support to all teachers as they provide standards-based instruction to educate the changing student population. The Panama-Buena Vista Union School District takes pride in its motto, "Excellence in Education."

Philip Matthew Ohe was born in November of 1979. He was a musician and played in many bands such as the South High Jazz Band, West High Jazz Band, Cal Poly Jazz Band, Illusion and Split Figure. He also was a member of the Kern County Honor Jazz Band and played at the CSUB Jazz Festival on several occasions.

When not playing with friends, Ohe would often play many original tunes on one of his many guitars. He was a dedicated saxophone and guitar player. Ohe attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he majored in mechanical engineering. After earning his degree in 2002, he was employed by TJ Cross Engineering for three years. He is remembered for his love of music and family.

Athletic director at CSUB from 1971 until 2010, Rudy Carvajal built a small university program into one of the best Division II programs in the nation, winning an unprecedented 30 national championships in seven different sports and the national Sears Directors' Cup for the overall excellence of its athletic program. Thanks to his strong student-athlete model and solid tutoring and advising support, university athletes graduated at rates not only rivaling, but surpassing, those of campus students in general. In addition, student-athletes were strongly engaged in community service, "giving back to Bakersfield," in his phrase, as ambassadors for education. His wife, Anne, has been with him throughout this nearly 40-year journey.

The Rudy and Anne Carvajal Endowment for Athletics was established on the occasion of Rudy being awarded the prestigious California State University Wang Family Excellence Award in spring 2005.

Samuel Joseph Gonzalez was born and raised in Bakersfield; he went to Fruitvale and Riverlakes Community Church. He helped in Sunday school for many years. He loved his older brothers, Armando and Gregory, dearly. Gonzalez was known as a sweet-hearted soul who loved his Lord Jesus Christ. He had many friends, and they remember him for the love he showed them, and his many interests, including sports, geology and reading. Gonzalez attended Stockdale High School, where he played football and track and field, excelling at both. He also was an avid video game player who deeply enjoyed playing with his brothers, friends and family. Gonzalez is remembered as an amazing individual whose dreams live on in the lives he touched.

Sanchez Wealth Management, LLC (SWM), an independent investment firm, is led by its founder, CEO and portfolio manager, Jon Sanchez. Sanchez has been a registered representative since 1993 and is a leader in the Northern Nevada and California financial community. Sanchez is a sought after speaker, author, portfolio manager and radio host, who has a passion for helping people, whether it's in the office or behind the microphone, hosting the Jon Sanchez Show each day. The firm is founded on the principles that have made Sanchez successful: honesty, integrity, passion and hard work. Sanchez established this scholarship to help encourage students, especially those in their family to become the first to attend a four-year university, to pursue a career in the finance industry. Sanchez's dedication to assisting students reach their educational goals is attributed to his love of the community.

Jack Schuetz was born January 5, 1932, in Mercier, Kansas, the youngest of five children, to Albert and Gladys Schuetz. Known as a giant in the special education community, Schuetz was highly regarded and considered the 'architect' of special ed programs in Kern County. In his more than three decades with the Kern High School District, Schuetz was responsible for the success of a wide array of programs and projects, most notably, playing a pivotal role in modernizing district special education efforts.

Together with Claude Richardson, the superintendent of schools for Kern County, Schuetz helped establish Bakersfield as a pinnacle in special education. The Schuetz Career Center and The Claude W Richardson Child Development Center are named in their honor. The dedication of Jack Schuetz and Claude Richardson to the Kern County community and education live on in this scholarship and those who believe in the power of education.

Jack Schuetz was born January 5, 1932, in Mercier, Kansas, the youngest of five children, to Albert and Gladys Schuetz. Known as a giant in the special education community, Schuetz was highly regarded and considered the 'architect' of special ed programs in Kern County. In his more than three decades with the Kern High School District, Schuetz was responsible for the success of a wide array of programs and projects, most notably, playing a pivotal role in modernizing district special education efforts.

Together with Claude Richardson, the superintendent of schools for Kern County, Schuetz helped establish Bakersfield as a pinnacle in special education. The Schuetz Career Center and The Claude W Richardson Child Development Center are named in their honor. The dedication of Jack Schuetz and Claude Richardson to the Kern County community and education live on in this scholarship and those who believe in the power of education.

This endowment was created by the CSUB wrestling program in honor of Stephen Neal. Neal is a 1999 graduate of CSUB with a bachelor's degree in physical education and kinesiology. He was a four-time NCAA Division I All-American, a three-time NWCA Academic First Team Selection and an undefeated two-time NCAA Division I Champion. Neal is the only wrestler in history to win an NCAA, Pam Am and World Title all in one year. He went on to play football for the New England Patriots, where he was a starting right guard and 3-time Super Bowl champion. Neal continues to actively support the sport of wrestling and the CSUB wrestling program. In 2022, he was inducted into the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame.

This scholarship was started in 2012 as a 75th birthday surprise gift made by Sylvia Corson's husband, Rev. John Corson, and a host of their family and friends.

Sylvia Corson earned her master's degree in education from CSUB as a "later in life" re-entry student and benefited from the faculty's professional expertise and personal caring. Corson faithfully worked in Kern County, and elsewhere in California, in the field of social sciences and counseling as a licensed marriage and family therapist for over 20 years.

The Corson family affirms the importance of higher education and is committed to a "ministry of shared blessings," and wants to assist students with financial need.

The Sylvia Bradbury Corson Scholarship will be awarded to a student with a major in the School of Social Sciences and Education who has an interest in a career in social services and counseling and has a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher; preference will be given to a first-generation or re-entry college student. The recipient may or may not be a U.S. citizen.

The Dennis and Anne Beaver Foundation sends linguistically and financially qualified high school and university students to France for a month of intensive, advanced study of the French language and has been doing this for over 25 years.

Beaver, who both practices law in Bakersfield and is a syndicated newspaper columnist, is fluent in French, having earned a degree in the language when he attended California State University, Northridge. "It was one amazing high school teacher who opened an entire world to me through the French language, which in turn gave me the culture of France and many friendships in that beautiful corner of the world. In a real way, our foundation is my saying 'Thank You' to that teacher — a concrete appreciation and validation for what she did for me, and for what all great French teachers do for their students."

The Varanasi family has a strong history of philanthropy in Kern County. Dr. Umamaheswara Varanasi is a nephrologist in Bakersfield and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Bakersfield Memorial Hospital and Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield. He received his medical degree from Andhra Medical College NTR and has been in practice for more than 30 years. He has operated in Bakersfield since 1980. He is a doctor at Kern Nephrology Medical Group who specializes in nephrology, a field of medicine that concerns itself with the study of normal kidney function, kidney problems, the treatment of kidney problems and renal replacement therapy (dialysis and kidney transplantation).

He is quoted saying “Education is something you can give to somebody in the community that helps the community to grow as a whole … We hope students someday give back to our community as well.” He is married to his wife Sitalakshmi Varanasi, who is a CSUB business and public administration alumna of the class of 1987; she received her bachelor's degree in accounting. She has been an investment accountant for many local banks in Kern County, and her father was a professor of preventive medicine who instilled in her the value and importance of education. In 2010, Dr. Uma and Mrs. Sita Varanasi donated $100,000 to fund the Varanasi Family Scholarship Fund. They are both dedicated to playing an active role in seeing our community grow and flourish.

Wendy Wayne was a 1978 CSUB graduate. She held a bachelor's degree in zoology from UCLA, a bachelor's degree in nursing from CSUB, a master's degree in public health, and a doctorate in educational leadership. She was a 2008 CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame inductee and was a commencement speaker for the School of Social Sciences and Education.

Wayne was known for her passionate involvement and endless contributions to the Kern County community, which she continued until her passing in 2012. Wendy Wayne had many careers, including being a teacher in the Peace Corps, a health educator, a nurse practitioner and an administrator of early childhood education programs. In her life, Wayne traveled to India, Nicaragua, Nigeria and the Sudan to do volunteer work. She also enjoyed working with the Kern Medical Reserve Corps. In addition, Wayne was a consultant to San Joaquin Community Hospital.

Wayne was married to her husband Gene Tackett, had two sons, two daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Wayne's legacy lives on through all those she touched and her memory permanently connects her to Bakersfield, Kern County and CSUB.