The Moorpark College Foundation handed out $125,000 in scholarships to 189 students in celebration of their outstanding accomplishments at the annual awards reception on April 27.

Moorpark College President Dr. Luis Sanchez opened the ceremony by thanking the many donors for their generous support of the scholarship program. He called the event a wonderful, joyful celebration of student achievement and community generosity.

He congratulated the winners, and noted that there were more than 1,000 applicants for the awards.

“We are delighted to celebrate a special milestone on your path to success, and we hope that one day soon, you will also want to support a new generation of Moorpark College students through a generous donation,” Sanchez said in the event program.

The Foundation, established in 1980, is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation that is designed to receive gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The volunteer board of community leaders increases the educational opportunities for students with scholarships, grants, and capital projects, according to the program.
Marie Perez-Medeiros, office assistant of the Scholarship Office and the event organizer, said she was happy for the students and thankful that the event went smoothly.

In addition to the Foundation, the donors included community organizations, college departments and faculty, and family members who contributed in memory of a former student or faculty.

Emma Stavropoulos received five scholarships, the most of anyone this semester. A close second was Ratidzai Shirley Chikukwa, who won four scholarships. Six students earned three scholarships apiece, and 25 received two scholarships. Sixteen students received their scholarships before the event.

Chikukwa said that she was excited to have the opportunity to meet the donors of the scholarships that she was awarded.

“The people in whose names these scholarships were created truly were amazing, and it was a great opportunity to learn about them,” said Chikukwa.