As the end of the semester approaches, Oxnard College Foundation office welcomes back their scholarship application program that grants students funds for their scholarly needs.

The scholarship application process begins online on Nov. 23 and will continue up until February 2011. Every student is encouraged to apply for a scholarship in just 5 easy steps.

 Step 1 is to go to www.oxnardcollege.edu/scholarships. Step 2 is to choose your category: high school student, continuing/returning student, transfer student. In Step 3 you download the application. Step 4 you fill out the application. Finally, in Step 5 you return the application to the OC Foundation office by the Feb. 2011 deadline.  

Connie Owens, OC Foundation Director, believes scholarships are incredibly helpful for students.  

“Once a student is awarded their scholarship, that money can be used for tuition, school supplies, fees, and books only,” said Owens. “We find that most students use the money for books since they are expensive.”

The application is easy and students can apply for several of the scholarships that they qualify for.  Rosie Infante, a 34-year-old sociology major, was a scholarship recipient last year.

 “It felt really good to receive a scholarship,” said Infante. “I really needed a laptop and I was able to buy one with my scholarship so it really helped me out.” 

Joe Milligan, OC Foundation President, believes it’s important to award students with scholarships.  

“Scholarships are incentives,” said Milligan. “They help students move into the future by helping them complete their education.” 

Recipients of scholarships will be able to attend a ceremony in the spring, where they will be given their awards at a special luncheon for them to enjoy along with their families, OC faculty and staff.

 “It is the most touching part of my job, to see the students at the awards ceremony receiving their awards and to see how proud their families are of them,” said Owens. “It’s heart-warming to see that the Foundation can help students in a small way.”

For more information about scholarships, contact the OC Foundation office at 805-986-5889.