The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB) is thrilled to announce the recipients of its Annual Scholarship Program. This year, the HACSB awarded five scholarships and increased the award amounts to surprise the recipients. Three scholarship winners will receive $2,000 each, while two will receive $4,000 each.
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be participants in HACSB programs and be enrolled in a community college, vocational or trade school, a four-year university, or postgraduate studies, with the latter category being a new addition to this year’s scholarship program.
The HACSB’s Annual Scholarship Program, established in 2015, was created to support families in achieving their educational aspirations. Recognizing its role in this mission, the HACSB has awarded 41 scholarships or $69,000, since the program’s inception.
This year’s awardees include Angelica Toledano, pursuing an Associate of Arts in Natural Sciences; Elizabeth Lopez, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies; Anna Guerra, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychological and Brain Sciences; Justin Arbaiza, pursuing a Master of Arts in Structural & Earthquake Engineering; and Giselle Fernandez, pursuing a Doctor of Dental Surgery.
“The scholarship means so much to me because it’s an external confirmation that my dreams are worth pursing, and that I have a community of people to support me financially, emotionally. Any sort of guidance or mentorship that I may need I have a group of people ready to do so,” said Anna Guerra, one of this year’s recipients.
Jeff Lambert, CEO of the HACSB said, “When we say we are housers, we often think of bricks and mortar. But housing, for us, is so much more than that. The Annual Scholarship Program is a powerful reminder of the opportunity we have to impact the lives of those we serve. Seeing the career paths these scholarship winners are pursuing amazes me—they are incredibly committed to giving back to their community. I am immensely proud of them.”
In addition to the scholarship, new recipients will receive a laptop of their choice, thanks to a generous donation from Diana & Francis Sparagna. Diana Sparagna, a board member of HACSB, has made this commitment since her tenure on the HACSB board.
To support the Annual Scholarship program, the HACSB, through one of its nonprofit affiliates, established the “Haunted Housing Run”. The yearly Halloween-themed 5k supports the HACSB’s Annual Scholarship program; 100% of the proceeds go to the Annual Scholarship program. The run is professionally timed, and all participants receive participatory medals.
To donate to the Scholarship Program, visit https://www.hauntedhousingrun.com/Race/Donate/CA/Ventura/HauntedHousingRun.
To learn more about the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura, visit www.hacityventura.org.
About the Housing Authority of the City of Buenaventura
The HACSB is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura with more than 1,480 Housing Choice Vouchers and 1097 affordable rental units. The mission of the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura is to provide and develop quality affordable housing for eligible low-income residents of Ventura County and to establish strong partnerships necessary for HACSB customers to achieve personal goals related to literacy and education; health and wellness; and job training and employment leading to personal growth and economic self-sufficiency.