Published in the May 27-June 9, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
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. In total, 105 awards were given. Some awards are designated for specific fields of study, while others are more general.
The largest award, presented annually, was 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. This year the winner of the award is English major Celina Rose Gutierrez. Gutierrez, a re-entry student and parent, has served the Gavilan College community as an assistant in the Writing Center. In the community, she has volunteered with El Teatro Campesino and the nonprofit organization Andariegas. Her English instructor, Karen Warren, described her 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 wrote: “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 was offered this year as well, the Eunice J. Picetti Memorial Scholarship, which was awarded to twelve students. The 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.
Scholarships are awarded through the Gavilan College Office of Financial Aid. For scholarship applications and more information about creating scholarships, go to www.gavilan.edu/finaid.
Here’s a complete list of Gavilan College 2015-16 scholarships and recipients
Karl S. Pister Leadership Award – U.C. Santa Cruz ($20,000)
Celina Rose Gutierrez
American Association of University Women, Gilroy Branch
Gladys Elizondo
American Association of University Women, Morgan Hill Branch
Tamie Bittle
Jade Cortez
Anika Mathewson
Lydia Riojas
American Legion Post 2017,Business
Katya Olmos
American Legion, Liberal Arts
Carman Huboi
American Legion, Math
Monica Puga
American Legion, Henry & Hattie Nurling, Nursing
Ashley Jimenez
American Legion, Raymond Valadez, Science
Dina Sanchez
American Legion, Raymond Valadez, Veteran
Marni Braverman
Alex Lejia
Associated Students of Gavilan College – ESL
Paulina Gonzalez
Patricia Villagomez
Associated Students of Gavilan College –John Pruitt Leadership
Teresita Gomez (Entering/New student)
Valerie Rodgers (Entering/New student)
Tamie Bittle (Continuing student)
Adrian Lopez (Continuing student)
Omar Lopez (Continuing student)
George Luna (Continuing student)
Anthony Quijada (Continuing student)
Rosario Gutierrez (Transfer student)
Charles Keith (Transfer student)
Moriah Montes (Transfer student)
Abigail Sotelo (Transfer student)
Besson Family Vineyards Scholarship
Judy Lopez
Ivan Ortega
CSEA Chapter 270
Ivan Moreno-Barbosa
Alyssa Gonzales
Lawrence Lin
Michelle Theresa Pedraza
Juan Esteban Talavera
Isobel Milton Cerney
Elizabeth Aguilera
Marge & George Dufresne Nursing
Maria Gomez
EOPS Club & EOPS Consortium
Keana Gandarilla
Georgina Melendez
Ivan Ortega
Anthony Quijada
Esther & Fred Forman Memorial
Victor Velsquez
Fulfill Your Dream Scholarship
Andrea Magana
Gavilan College Gala Scholarship
Marisol Alfaro (ESL)
Lili Olmos (ESL)
Rubi Calderon (Business)
Iris Cueto (Biological Science)
Fernando Rodriguez Duran (Liberal Arts/Psychology)
Adrian Lopez (Liberal Arts/Social Science)
Rosalinda Mendoza (Allied Health)
Elizabeth Aguilera (Allied Health)
Sara Papion (Liberal Arts/Global Studies)
Damian Medina Ruiz (Communication Studies)
Maria Solorio (Child Development)
Jennivi Zambrano (Liberal Arts/Natural Science)
Gavilan College Comm Club
Javier Castaneda
Jennifer Gallagher
Carmen Huboi
Elizabeth Quezada
Leila Villarreal
Gavilan College Managers & Confidentials
Ivan Ortega
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce – Sorensen-Lake Memorial
Katya Olmos
Gilroy Garlic Festival Association Rudy Melone Scholarship
Denise Apuzzo
Gilroy Garlic Festival Association Richard Nicholls Memorial
Karl S. Pister Leadership Award – U.C. Santa Cruz ($20,000)
Celina Rose Gutierrez
American Association of University Women, Gilroy Branch
Gladys Elizondo
American Association of University Women, Morgan Hill Branch
Tamie Bittle
Jade Cortez
Anika Mathewson
Lydia Riojas
American Legion Post 2017,Business
Katya Olmos
American Legion, Liberal Arts
Carman Huboi
American Legion, Math
Monica Puga
American Legion, Henry & Hattie Nurling, Nursing
Ashley Jimenez
American Legion, Raymond Valadez, Science
Dina Sanchez
American Legion, Raymond Valadez, Veteran
Marni Braverman
Alex Lejia
Associated Students of Gavilan College – ESL
Paulina Gonzalez
Patricia Villagomez
Associated Students of Gavilan College –John Pruitt Leadership
Teresita Gomez (Entering/New student)
Valerie Rodgers (Entering/New student)
Tamie Bittle (Continuing student)
Adrian Lopez (Continuing student)
Omar Lopez (Continuing student)
George Luna (Continuing student)
Anthony Quijada (Continuing student)
Rosario Gutierrez (Transfer student)
Charles Keith (Transfer student)
Moriah Montes (Transfer student)
Abigail Sotelo (Transfer student)
Besson Family Vineyards Scholarship
Judy Lopez
Ivan Ortega
CSEA Chapter 270
Ivan Moreno-Barbosa
Alyssa Gonzales
Lawrence Lin
Michelle Theresa Pedraza
Juan Esteban Talavera
Isobel Milton Cerney Award
Elizabeth Aguilera
Isobel Milton Cerney
Elizabeth Aguilera
Marge & George Dufresne Nursing
Maria Gomez
EOPS Club & EOPS Consortium
Keana Gandarilla
Georgina Melendez
Ivan Ortega
Anthony Quijada
Esther & Fred Forman Memorial
Victor Velsquez
Fulfill Your Dream Scholarship
Andrea Magana
Gavilan College Gala Scholarship
Marisol Alfaro (ESL)
Lili Olmos (ESL)
Rubi Calderon (Business)
Iris Cueto (Biological Science)
Fernando Rodriguez Duran (Liberal Arts/Psychology)
Adrian Lopez (Liberal Arts/Social Science)
Rosalinda Mendoza (Allied Health)
Elizabeth Aguilera (Allied Health)
Sara Papion (Liberal Arts/Global Studies)
Damian Medina Ruiz (Communication Studies)
Maria Solorio (Child Development)
Jennivi Zambrano (Liberal Arts/Natural Science)
Gavilan College Comm Club
Javier Castaneda
Jennifer Gallagher
Carmen Huboi
Elizabeth Quezada
Leila Villarreal
Gavilan College Managers & Confidentials
Ivan Ortega
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce – Sorensen-Lake Memorial
Katya Olmos
Gilroy Garlic Festival Association Rudy Melone Scholarship
Denise Apuzzo
Gilroy Garlic Festival Association Richard Nicholls Memorial
Raquel Vazquez
Gilroy Rotary Scholarships
Nery Peralta – Susan J. Seledon Scholarship
Nery Peralta – Gilroy Gardens Scholarship
Ivan Ortega Rotary/Syngenta Scholarship
Rosario Gutierrez – Rotary/Syngenta Scholarship
David Miranda – Rotary/Sungenta Scholarship
Shelby McClelland – Goldsmith Scholarship
Kai & Libby Lai Family Scholarship
Jade Cortez
Ivan Ortega
Perla Virgen-Silva
Leslie Montes-Vazquez
Bernard Osher Scholarship
Juan Avalos (Continuing student)
Taha Khan (Continuing student)
Latoya Pires (Continuing student)
Caroline Mansmith-Gutierrez (Transfer student)
Xinia Muniz (Transfer student)
Miguel Redmond (Transfer student)
Karanbir Singh (Transfer student)
Pacific Dining Scholarship
Tarianna Perez
Jennivi Zambrano
Eunice J. Picetti Memorial Scholarship
Marisol Alfaro (Continuing student)
Victor Alfonseca (Continuing student)
Mary Cueto (Continuing student)
Priscilla De Anda (Continuing student)
Karen Moreno (Continuing student)
Elizabeth Quezada (Continuing student)
Ilse Denise Torres (Continuing student)
Stan Wolosz (Continuing student)
Janet Chaires (Transferring student)
Yenisel Cruz (Transferring student)
David Ray Miranda (Transferring student)
Nery Peralta (Transferring student)
Edna & Waldo Rohnert Memorial
Alejandra Rueda
Giovanna Sainz
South Valley Democratic Club
Alicia Arias
Ivan Ortega
South Valley Unitarian Scholarship – Nursing
Roberta Henry
Silvia Madera
Jennifer Solis
Sara Whitney
Ashley Wilson
Cindy Starr Memorial Scholarship
Juan Castrillon
Ray Gutierrez, Jr.