The Class of 2019 earned more than $11.6 million in college and military scholarships, far surpassing previous years’ totals.
Cajon High School had the largest graduating class in the District, with 624 students earning a high school diploma in June. More than half of Cajon’s graduates received scholarships or grants to help them pay for college. In all, Cajon graduates received over $3.1 million in scholarships and grants, including $1.1 million shared by 14 students who received military scholarships and signing bonuses for enlisting in nearly every branch of the armed forces.
Seniors graduating from San Andreas High School, a continuation school serving students who need to catch up on credits to graduate, received close to $400,000 in aid, with the majority of it going to six students who signed up to serve in various branches of the military.
In comparison, the Class of 2018 received $8.1 million in grants, scholarships, and military aid. That sharp increase in financial aid is partly due to the number of San Andreas High students who enlisted in the military.
The San Bernardino City Unified School District is grateful for the generosity of scholarship donors, said Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden.
“Those who donate so generously are investing in our community and in doing so, they are making hope happen for students who may otherwise struggle to pay for college,” Marsden said. “There’s no better way to improve our city than to help young people realize their dream of going to college.”
SBCUSD is unusual among public school districts in that it has two organizations dedicated to providing scholarships to graduates. Founded in 1957, the San Bernardino Community Scholarship Association is a non-profit with the sole purpose of coordinating contributions from individuals and local groups to award scholarships to SBCUSD graduates. More than 85 donors contribute more than $250,000 annually, with individual scholarships ranging from $100 to $9,000. The Making Hope Happen Foundation is a non-profit geared toward helping the San Bernardino area become a thriving community. To that end, the Foundation awards scholarships to SBCUSD and volunteers mentor recipients so students can have a successful college experience. If you would like to donate to the Making Hope Happen Foundation, visit http://makinghope.org. If you would like to establish your own scholarship through the Community Scholarship Association, call (909) 381-1250.