Shasta Regional Community Foundation

Scholarship and Loan Opportunities

The fall season is a great time for students to begin researching scholarship opportunities that will help them reach their educational goals. Shasta Regional Community Foundation is an excellent resource, managing many scholarship funds awarded to graduating high school seniors as well as those students already enrolled in undergraduate programs. Some of these scholarships were started by families or individuals; others by businesses or organizations.

The Community Foundation distributed 195 awards totaling $272,300 for the 2019-2020 academic year. These scholarships and low-interest loans help to fund a recipient’s trade school, community college, university, or medical school education. Award criteria may be based on community service, grades, financial need, extra-curricular activities, and other donor-specified qualifications. Each opportunity and its online application are on the Shasta Regional Community Foundation website.

Are you planning to major in agricultural studies with a special emphasis on the livestock industry? Check out the Andy Peek Livestock Endowed Scholarship Fund, established by the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale in honor and memory of this past chairman of the Shasta District Fair Board in California and 2007 Tehama County Cattleman of the Year. The annual application window for this scholarship is September through December.

Sometimes favorite subjects in school or hobbies point the way to a successful scholarship application for post-secondary education. For example, Morgan took part in the fire technology class offered at Foothill High School. Through this experience, she became a certified firefighter while gaining other basic skills that have helped her along the way. She enjoys hunting, fishing, running, and anything outdoors, leading her to seek a bachelor’s degree in ecology and pursue a career in prescribed burning with a wildlife conservation group.

Or consider Caden, whose favorite school subjects were math, computer science, biology, physics, environmental science while participating in a robotics club and playing basketball. His goal is to become a computer programmer/engineer.

One scholarship applicant made an interesting discovery because he had participated in activities with Stable Hands, a nonprofit partner of Shasta Regional Community Foundation. When he was eight years old, Zeke was featured on the 2007 cover of Shasta Regional Community Foundation’s annual report as a client at Stable Hands Therapeutic Riding Program. Years later, as a recipient of a Kelly Moravec Academic Encouragement Scholarship and Tri Counties Bank Scholarship, he shares, “I gained so much from the Stable Hands program and am grateful for the Foundation’s support of them and many other worthy programs, in addition to the scholarship program. Their work is invaluable to our local communities.”

Don’t let a physical challenge keep you from an educational goal. When Karli was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic polyarticular arthritis, she says, “This brought a whole new series of emotions into my life. Frankly, I thought my life had ended, and I would never be able to become a doctor or do anything. However, with medicine, I’m pushing through the pain and following my dreams.” Karli received several scholarships that will help with the financial burden she will face with her tuition. “My parents are already paying for my medical bills, so I’m so thankful to have received these scholarships to help cut the cost of my education.”

For more information about scholarship programs managed by Shasta Regional Community Foundation, contact Program Associate Miriam Leal at miriam@shastarcf.org or visit the website.