New scholarship created by Haybaler alumni
The Hollister High School class of 1971 alumni, led by Rudy
Bermudes, recently established a scholarship for a graduating
Haybaler who plans to enroll in an accredited vocational school,
community college, four-year college, or university.
New scholarship created by Haybaler alumni
The Hollister High School class of 1971 alumni, led by Rudy Bermudes, recently established a scholarship for a graduating Haybaler who plans to enroll in an accredited vocational school, community college, four-year college, or university.
The Class of 1971 Scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding San Benito High, formerly Hollister High, senior with financial need who has maintained a high school GPA of 2.0 or higher. The student needs to have demonstrated sound character and good citizenship through his or her participation in sports, school clubs, school government, other school activities, and volunteer work in the community.
“This scholarship targets an average high school senior,” Bermudes said. “By the time students have become a senior, they have what it takes to be committed to helping others. They have learned to be team players. They can see themselves furthering their education, but they don’t have the means.”
Former classmates Bermudes, Debbie (Villalon) Carrillo and Debbie (Paura) Dike, are responsible for organizing the Class of 1971 Scholarship. They completed the required legal paperwork this past summer. Although they live in other counties, the scholarship founders continue to maintain strong family and community ties in Hollister.
Bermudes came up with the idea for the scholarship after attending a Baler scholarship presentation night, and noticed that few awards were given by graduating classes. “The light turned on,” he said, “I wanted to start a scholarship for my class.”
“I know we can make a difference and help a student in need,” said Bermudes. “And who knows, maybe later on that student will be setting up his or her own scholarship.”
The scholarship’s organizers plan to award the first scholarship at the 2008 Baler scholarship presentation night. Their goal is to offer a $2,000 scholarship. They would like to eventually make it a renewable two-year scholarship in the future.
The scholarship organizers are planning a fund-raiser in Hollister in Spring 2008.
To contribute to the scholarship fund, individuals may send their donations – made to “Class of 1971 Scholarship” – to the Community Foundation for San Benito County, 719 San Benito St., ste. G, Hollister, CA 95023.
“There’s no minimum or maximum. As long as it come from the heart, the smallest donation is as big as the maximum one,” Bermudes said.
For more information about the scholarship, e-mail Bermudes at
ru*****@ao*.com
, or write to P.O. Box 1124, Mi-Wuk Village, CA 95346.
