Contact: Juliet V. Casey, jcasey@losmedaonos.edu, (925) 473-7322
Pittsburg, CA – Los Medanos College (LMC) is pleased to announce five students will receive Kennedy-King Memorial Fund two-year scholarships of $6,000 per year for up to two years to complete their undergraduate degrees. Scholarship recipients will be honored at the 58th Annual Celebration of Scholars, 7 p.m. on Friday, May 15 at the Hilton Concord, 1970 Diamond Blvd. in Concord.
This year’s scholarship recipients are:
Jose Jesus Chavez
Jose Cisneros Vaca
Natalia Longoria
Bryanda Zaribel Ruiz Moreno
Carolina Isabel Zanni
Recipients of Kennedy-King scholarships are selected for their academic promise, financial
need, determination to achieve an education (often in the face of hardships), leadership
potential, and commitment to helping their community. Historically, scholarship recipients
come from minority groups under-represented in California colleges and universities,
principally students of African-American, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander
descent.
Longoria, who plans to transfer to San Jose State University to major in child and
adolescent development, said the scholarship will be an ongoing reminder that hard
work can lead to rewarding outcomes. In addition to the scholarship, Longoria was
recognized with La Fuerza del Pueblo Spirit Award this year for her work in the Puente Learning Community and for volunteering with
farmworkers’ advocacy group Hijas del Campo.
“I will proudly carry with me my Kennedy-King Scholarship and La Fuerza del Pueblo Spirit Award, not only as symbols of my achievements, but as representations of everything LMC and its Puente Learning Community has taught me: that anything is possible,” she said.
Cisneros Vaca said the scholarship will help him pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing from California State University, Sacramento. He aims to become an intensive care unit nurse or emergency room nurse.
“This award means a lot to me because it is not only and investment in me, but also in the future patients I will be treating,” he said. “This scholarship will allow me to cut back on work and focus more on school.”
Chavez, who plans to transfer to University of California, Davis for a degree in cellular biology, said he is grateful for the chance to continue his trajectory. “The financial burden this scholarship lifted off my shoulders has empowered me to take more of a risk and go into the field I really want. To know people are rooting for me means a lot.”
About Kennedy-King Scholarship Fund
Founded in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the
nonprofit scholarship fund was created to give opportunities to underrepresented minority
students attending or coming from one of the three Contra Costa County Community Colleges.
The fund has awarded more than $7.7 million in scholarships to 1,385 students since
1968, including undergraduate, graduate and Regalia scholarships.
About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.