The Gilroy Foundation, a local philanthropic nonprofit organization, gave out $343,450 in scholarships this year to 53 Gilroy and Morgan Hill graduates. The money came from 19 sources including garlic entrepreneuer Don Christopher, owner of Christopher Ranch; his wife, Karen; and sons Bill and Ken Christopher.
Other scholarship donations came from Kai and Libby Lai, who gave three $500 awards to Gavilan College graduates who are pursuing degrees in Education, and the Julio Manta memorial fund which was started by Julio’s son, Joe Manta, for high school graduates of Mexican descent. Four $50,000 Julio Manta scholarships were awarded.
“The donor can have a say in who is awarded the scholarship,” Executive Director Donna Pray of the Gilroy Foundation said.
While a donor sometimes decides to start his/her own selection committee, the donor’s personal vote can only be worth one third of the final decision, Pray explained. The selection committee needs to be made up of at least two other people besides the donor. If the donor chooses not have a selection committee, the recipients of the scholarships are selected by the Gilroy Foundation or the principals and counselors of the school.
Julio Mata, $50,000 each
• Alejandra Gonzalez, CHS
• Austin Sepulveda, CHS
• Cesar Diaz, CHS
• Samantha Sarabia, CHS
Obata family, $1,000
• Cindy Kang, CHS
Linda Burnett, $12,000 each (renewable)
• Cynthia Corona Camacho, CHS
• Cao Phuonguyen, CHS
• Samantha Sarabia, CHS
Erin Kinkel $500 each
• Isabelle Diaz, GHS
SM Stramback, $600 each
• Melissa Peterson, GHS
• Andrew Hathaway, GHS
• Thomas Cox, GHS
• Antonio Duran, GHS
• Avery Conforti Sobrato High School
• Cameron Moeller, Live Oak High School
• Matt Jarvis, LOHS
Gordon Kusayanagi Memorial Music, $1,000 each
• Sarah Haas, CHS
Doug Stevens Memorial, $1,000 each
• Mariesa Mazzone, GHS
Sean Michael Merriman, $1,000 each
• Bianca Canales, Mt. Madonna Continuation HS
• Martin Carcamo, Mt. Madonna Continuation HS
• Carina Ochoa Mt., Madonna Continuation HS
• Natalie Dabecic Mt., Madonna Continuation HS
• Kevin Rafael-Solano, Mt. Madonna Continuation HS
• Diego Hernandez, Mt. Madonna Continuation HS
• Vanessa Garcia, Mt. Madonna Continuation HS
• Isaac Cadile, Mt. Madonna Continuation HS
• Rosalie Lopez, Mt. Madonna Continuation HS
Jan Kelly Memorial, $1,500
• Samantha Una Dia, GHS
Chamber of Commerce Sorenson Lake, $1,000
• Kacey Cook
Don Christopher, $20,000 each
• Jerry Kuang, CHS
• Jennifer Sigl, CHS
Don & Karen Christopher, $5,000 each
• Kyle Kwong, CHS
• Perla Virgen-Silva, CHS
Don & Karen Christopher Community College, $3,000 each
• Mirella Lopez, CHS
• Hannah Wrenn, CHS
• Jose Castillo, CHS
Christopher Ranch Employee Family, $2,500
• Raeanne Estrada-Covarrubias, CHS
Bill Christopher Scholar Athlete, $10,000
• Veasna Khay CHS
Ken Christopher CHS, $5,000
• Cindy Kang, CHS
Esther Costales Forman Scholarship, $250
• Danielle Caltabiano Gavilan
Kai and Libby Lai Scholarship, $500 each
• Marni Braverman Gavilan
• Alexandra Tinoco Heredia Gavilan
• Davin Clark Gavilan
Don & Karen Christopher $1,000 each
• Nadine Filippi, CHS
• Alyssa Dorn, CHS
• Shelby O’Hara, CHS
• Ryan Fredericks, CHS
• Julia Graham, CHS
• Maria Zaragoza, CHS
• Elena Rubio, CHS
• Anupreet Gill, CHS
• Nathan Morla, CHS
• Samantha Pew, CHS
