Dear Friends, What an exhilarating finish to Fiscal Year 2026! In a span of less than six weeks, our organization announced almost $8.5 million in scholarships for the coming academic year, celebrated local students and supporters at gatherings in both ends of the county, and presented an especially dazzling South Coast Business & Technology (SCBT)… Read more »
Dear Friends, I began serving as interim president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara a little more than a month ago, and over the intervening weeks a few things have become absolutely clear. First, the Scholarship Foundation has been blessed with a truly exceptional staff. This had long been my sense, but… Read more »
Americans seem to be of two minds about the importance of a college education. On one hand, surveys consistently show plummeting support for the long-held notion that a four-year degree has significant value. On the other hand, college enrollment continues to grow. What’s going on? In November, NBC News became the latest outlet to report… Read more »
November is National Scholarship Month (NSM), so it’s as good a time as any to highlight the importance of college scholarships, especially given the challenges besetting higher education. In fact, the National Scholarship Providers Association created NSM to raise awareness of the vital role scholarships play in reducing student debt and expanding access to postsecondary… Read more »
Anniversaries have a way of focusing the mind on recent achievements and fixing their meaning in a broader context. They also have a way of sharpening one’s sense of gratitude. With the second anniversary of my appointment as president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation having recently passed, I find myself marveling at the remarkable… Read more »
Nationwide, institutions of higher learning are still assessing the potential fallout of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act following its passage in early July. Some advocates believe it will be years before we have a full understanding of the legislation’s impact in relation to postsecondary education. The original version of the bill that passed the… Read more »
In recent years, critics of higher education have increasingly questioned its value, arguing that the cost of tuition often outweighs the benefits of a college degree. In response, education advocates have begun to push back, offering counter narratives that emphasize the obvious virtues and time-tested benefits of the country’s colleges and universities. Much of the… Read more »
The first months of 2025 have been an especially busy time at the Scholarship Foundation. I thought I would take a moment and briefly highlight some of our recent successes. I am pleased to report that our Art Scholarship program remains very popular with both students and the wider public. In fact, we successfully expanded… Read more »
Despite the efforts of lawmakers to legislate a course correction, the U.S. Department of Education continues to struggle with a key financial aid form. In July, bills were introduced in both the House and Senate that would require this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA to be released in October. The Department… Read more »
As we approach the first anniversary of my appointment as president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation, I feel it would be a good time to take stock of our progress as an organization as well as our accomplishments on behalf of the community. My appointment was effective August 14, 2023, just as the Foundation… Read more »
