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Santa Barbara, CA — The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara has expanded its innovative “Future Scholars” summer program, forging alliances with four new partner organizations to broaden instructional opportunities for area youth. New program partners this year include Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast, People’s Self-Help Housing, Lompoc Middle School, and El Camino Junior High School in Santa Maria. Launched last summer, the Scholarship Foundation’s “Future Scholars” program provides county elementary and junior high school students with information about college-level study, financial aid, and career options. The goal is to encourage and inspire students as young as age 8 to plan for college or vocational school.
“We are excited about this expansion and delighted to collaborate with our new ‘Future Scholars’ partners,” said Scholarship Foundation President and CEO Melinda Cabrera. “Given the importance of this subject matter, we felt strongly that it should be made broadly available. We want to spread the word far and wide that postsecondary education is a viable option for all young people in Santa Barbara County, regardless of their financial circumstances. Early outreach is often a difference maker in the trajectory of students’ lives. It is our hope that one day we will be able to support ‘Future Scholars’ participants with scholarships when they are ready to pursue higher education.”