Schools
Moorpark Boys & Girl Club Employee Awarded Full Scholarship
Amy Tidball will attend the University of Phoenix on a full scholarship and pursue a Masters in Public Administration.
"Education is really important," said Amy Tidball, to a captive audience of about a dozen grade schoolers. "I can't emphasize it enough."
Tidball is the site coordinator of the Arroyo West Active Learning Academy, the Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark's newest site and the honoree at a reception Thursday afternoon.
The 23-year-old just learned that she is one of 20 recipients of full-tuition scholarships, offered by the University of Phoenix and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).
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"It's a brand-new collaboration," said Pam Knitowski, development director of the Boys & Girls Club of Moopark. "That's why we were really ecstatic when we found out that Amy was picked."
The national scholarship program is open to Boys & Girls Club staff, parents and alumni, giving them an opportunity to apply for a full-tuition scholarship for an undergraduate or master’s degree program at the University of Phoenix.
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On its maiden year, 20 scholarships are being awarded. Out of the 20 recipients, five are from Southern California including two from Ventura County.
Tidball will use the scholarship to pursue a Masters in Public Administration, which she expects to complete in a year and a half. She earned her bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Cal State Channel Islands.
"I really want to go into the non-profit and community services sectors," said Tidball, explaining her program choice.
The Calabasas resident credits her mom for inspiring her and being a good role model. "She's a single mom who raised me while working full-time and while pusuing a bachelor's degree," said Tidball.
Coincidentally, Tidball's mom earned her business degree online from the University of Phoenix. "She never got to march during graduation because she really had a full plate then," she said.
Jody Skenderian, director of community relations at the University of Phoenix, thinks it's never too late.
She said, "That would be really cool if both Amy and her mom can march together when she graduates next fall."