MSJC Fall Scholarship Luncheon Recognizes 58 Students

Four students from Mt. San Jacinto College benefited from the addition of three new scholarships through the MSJC Foundation during the fall awards ceremony held Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014.

The annual President’s State of the College Luncheon and Fall Scholarship Awards Ceremony, which in previous years was held at the Menifee Valley Campus, was moved to the Menifee Lakes Country Club to accommodate the growing number of students benefitting from scholarships. In all, 57 students received scholarships totaling $58,391 during the event.

MSJC student Oxana Foster became the first student to receive the Joanne Hinchliff Memorial Scholarship. MSJC Foundation Board Member Sherri Domenigoni created the scholarship after Hinchliff, one of MSJC’s first professors, died earlier this year. The Alma Brook Memorial Scholarship, new to the MSJC Foundation, was awarded to students Brandi Koch and Rodrick Williams. And Lance Rodriguez is the first student to be awarded the Joan Sparkman Scholarship. Sparkman, a former member of the MSJC Board of Trustees, presented the award to Rodriguez, a military veteran, and thanked him for his service to the country.

During the event, MSJC Superintendent/President Roger Schultz provided guests with a State of the College presentation. He covered the demographics of the district’s students and announced that the district will offer more summer classes in 2015. He said student success numbers are climbing and talked about awards the district has received.

Other highlights included:

· Passage of Measure AA, the $295 million facilities bond

Next steps for the MSJC board: prioritize projects and work on the formation of a citizen’s oversight committee.

· Trustee Ann Motte re-elected for Trustee Area 4

· Trustee Gwendolyn Schlange retiring from the Board after 20+ years of service

· Bill Zimmerman beginning first term in December 2014

· Military Friendly School designation for 2015 from Victory Media Inc., a veteran-owned business founded in 2001

· MSJC among the Top 100 associate degree producers in the nation from Community College Week

· Opening the Temecula Higher Education Center

· Partnership with Cal State San Marcos

· Escrow on 80 acres in Wildomar for a campus.

--Information and photo from MSJC