By LOUISE MAZEROV and PENNY JOHNSON
The Cambria Community Scholarship Foundation is pleased to introduce Hannah Cook, who received a Re-Entry Scholarship in 2024 to support her pursuit of a degree in Environmental Science. She is currently enrolled at Cuesta College where she is studying hydrology and water systems. She is looking forward to submitting applications to Cal Poly locations in San Luis Obispo and Humboldt in the fall.
Hannah is enthusiastic about Cuesta’s great professors and the opportunities she has in her field of study. The Re-Entry Scholarship has given her the means to take advantage of everything Cuesta has to offer without financial worry. She can now join field study courses to the Mojave Desert and Baja, and she will attend the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh where her Cuesta supported project on Central Coast beach sediment movements was selected for presentation. She is so thankful for this support in her new career.
Prior to returning to school, Hannah taught children many genres of dance for over ten years; she has always loved dance and the arts. But when she reached the point when her knees could no longer hold up to the rigors of teaching dance to children, she knew it was time for a career transition.
Not everyone attends college shortly after or within a few years of graduating high school or pursues a specific career forever. Hannah is an example of an adult who is making a career change mid-stream. Perhaps your situation is similar. Or you may be just a few years out of high school and have now found a career that stimulates you and that you know you will be good at. Perhaps you are a first-generation college student and are intimidated by the process of applying for admission and scholarships, or you may know someone who fits this description. There are many resources available to help students returning to school to succeed.
Here are just two of the programs that Cuesta offers continuing, returning, or first-generation college students:
–Monarch for undocumented students: cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/monarch-centers/index.html
–MESA for first generation STEM: cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/mesa-program/index.html
Every year the Cambria Community Scholarship Foundation offers need-based scholarships for all individuals who are resuming their academic pursuits after having taken time off after high school, or who have not completed a post-high school degree or program.
Applicants must live or work in Cambria or San Simeon and have completed high school or obtained a high school equivalency. Those who apply for the scholarship must have an acceptance to a college or post high school training program.
Candidates for the Re-entry Scholarship may apply directly online, and the application includes questions about a student’s financial eligibility. They must also write a personal statement and provide a recommendation related to academic or employment experiences. Interviews will be held either in person or via Zoom.
CCSF encourages eligible candidates to apply. Visit the CCSF website for application details: Re-Entry Scholarship Info. For more information about applying for the Re-entry Scholarship or on how to donate to the CCSF program, contact Louise Mazerov at: mazerov@hotmail.com. Scholarship applications will be received through March 17.
