Category: Recent News

Scholarship Application Deadline Extended!

In response to ongoing technical challenges associated with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Scholarship Foundation has extended the application deadline for its General and Employer-Sponsored Scholarship Programs from Wednesday, January 31, to Sunday, February 18, at 11:59 p.m. PST. We highly recommend that you submit your FAFSA as soon as… Read more »

Scholarship Foundation Holds Annual Luncheon

More than 300 people attended the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara’s 2023 Community Leaders Luncheon at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort on Friday, December 8. The annual event recognizes Scholarship Foundation supporters, volunteers, and community partners. Featured speakers this year included Dr. Richard Yao, president of California State University Channel Islands, and longtime community… Read more »

From the Desk of Melinda Cabrera

Tuition hikes at colleges and universities tend to provoke backlashes from students, parents, and education advocates, as one would expect. Among others likely to suffer their own economic fallout downstream of such policy decisions, however, the reaction is often muted. In today’s increasingly interconnected economy, though, hardship in one sector seldom fails to darken others…. Read more »

Scholarship Foundation Commercial Airs Locally

This 30-second PSA featuring student recipients at the Scholarship Foundation’s 2023 South County Awards Ceremony has been airing on local Cox channels throughout the month of October.

A Foundation Recipient Shares His Inspiring Story

By his own account, education has been Diego Curiel’s salvation. Once a troubled teen who struggled mightily with addiction, today he is a computer engineering transfer student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with plans to pursue graduate studies in electrical engineering. Support from the Scholarship Foundation helped bring about his remarkable transformation. “To me,… Read more »

Scholarship Foundation Receives Platinum Seal

The Scholarship Foundation has received a 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), a leading nonprofit information service. The Platinum Seal is Candid’s highest level of recognition, signifying exceptional openness in reporting institutional finances and performance. The Scholarship Foundation has now received five consecutive Platinum Seals. Nonprofit organizations achieve Platinum status by providing… Read more »

Cabrera Named Scholarship Foundation President & CEO

Melinda Cabrera, who as vice president of United Way of Santa Barbara County helped spearhead that organization’s robust response to the Covid-19 pandemic, has been named president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. She will begin serving in her new role on August 14. “Melinda comes to us with an impressive record… Read more »

Scholarship Foundation Receives 11th Consecutive Four-Star Rating

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara has received its 11th consecutive four-star rating from nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator. The rating – Charity Navigator’s highest – indicates superior financial efficiency and transparency in Scholarship Foundation operations. The Foundation has now received 20 four-star ratings in 21 years. “We are truly in select company, as fewer than… Read more »

SCBT Awards Gross Record Total for Area Scholarships

Eight standout organizations and individuals were honored at a recent awards ceremony that grossed a record $310,400 for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. The 2023 South Coast Business & Technology Awards ceremony took place June 7 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. The annual awards recognize innovation, leadership, and success in the area’s… Read more »

Announcing Scholarship Awards for the 2023-24 Academic Year

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara has awarded college scholarships totaling nearly $7.2 million to 1,864 Santa Barbara County students for the 2023-24 academic year.