The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Annual Scholarship Program. This year, HACSB awarded $23,000 in scholarships to ten exceptional students, each of whom is taking important steps toward a brighter future through higher education. The HACSB honored the scholarship recipients at a special ceremony, where they were joined by their families and inspired by Ventura Mayor Dr. Sanchez-Palacios, who shared her personal educational journey and the profound impact education has had on her life.
Now in its tenth year, the scholarship program supports HACSB residents who are enrolled in community colleges, vocational or trade schools, four-year universities, or postgraduate programs. Since its launch in 2015, the program has awarded 51 scholarships to Housing Authority families totaling $92,000, helping to break down barriers to education and economic mobility.
“This program is one of the ways we live out our mission beyond housing,” said HACSB CEO Jeff Lambert. “Housing creates stability, but education opens doors. These scholarship recipients are pursuing careers that will not only transform their lives but also uplift the entire community. We’re honored to support them on that journey.”
This year’s recipients represent a wide range of academic fields, including nursing, engineering, child development, psychology, and business. They are:
- Juliana Gutierrez – Fine Arts
- Mirella Toledano – Nursing
- Destiny Salinas – Biomedical Studies
- Jocelyn Vicente – Child Development
- Thomas Ray – Environmental Engineering
- Adrian Esparza – Kinesiology
- Elizabeth Solis – Psychology
- Dayanna Mendoza – Neonatology
- Andrea Anaya – Master’s in School Counseling
- Anthoney Fasthorse – Business Administration
For many students, receiving a scholarship is more than a financial boost—it’s a meaningful acknowledgement of their resilience and potential. As recipient Destiny Salinas shared, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” She reflected on how significant this moment is in her journey: “I didn’t think I would ever experience something like this or allow myself to fully embrace a moment like this in my life. I know my 18-year-old self would be proud of how far I’ve come. I continue to work hard to make her proud—to prove that the things she thought she couldn’t overcome, she absolutely can.”
In addition to the scholarship awards, students in need will receive a laptop computer of their choice, thanks to a generous donation from Diana and Francis Sparagna. Diana Sparagna, a longtime member of HACSB’s Board of Commissioners, has championed this added support for financially vulnerable students throughout her tenure.
To learn more about HACSB’s scholarship program or to explore ways to support it, please contact Alice Villareal-Redit at aredit@hacityventura.org.
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 San 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.