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Stanislaus Community Foundation awards $371,000 in scholarships
stanislaus community foundation

Honoring a commitment to the next generation, officials with the Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF) recently announced the awarding of 157 scholarships totaling $371,000 to local students for the 2026-2027 school year. Since its inception in 2002, SCF has distributed more than $3 million in scholarships – made possible by local individuals, families, companies, and schools.

“Scholarships do more than help students pay for college – they affirm that our community believes in their potential,” said Marian Kaanon, President and CEO of Stanislaus Community Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of local donors, these awards open doors for students across Stanislaus County and encourage them to take the next step toward their future.”

Multiple scholarship funds hosted at Stanislaus Community Foundation were created to support college-bound high school seniors and current college students in their pursuit of higher education. Based on donor goals, some funds require that a student be part of a specific field of study such as nursing, agriculture, mathematics, or music, or that a student must demonstrate financial need.

This year, 65 percent of first-time awardees came from low-income households – a reminder of the critical role scholarships play in expanding access to higher education for local students. Stanislaus Community Foundation’s scholarship program is made possible through the generous donor support of 34 charitable funds.

Anyone interested in opening a scholarship fund to support Stanislaus County students can contact Melissa Van Diepen, Chief Philanthropy Officer, at mvandiepen@stanislauscf.org or by calling 209-576-1608, Ext. 104.

In the coming months, Stanislaus Community Foundation will be highlighting the scholarship recipients on its social media channels: Facebook (@StanislausFoundation), Instagram (@stanislauscf), and LinkedIn (Stanislaus Community Foundation).

Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF) is a place-based funder serving the residents of Stanislaus County. Since 2002, SCF has worked with hundreds of local, charitably focused families to invest more than $66 million in philanthropic resources in the region. For more information, visit stanislauscf.org.