Martin Luther King Jr. High School student Christian De La Vega, left, celebrates his selection as a Tom Hunt Memorial Scholarship recipient with Multi-Tiered System of Support counselor Steven Fuller II at the Riverside Unified School District Foundation’s award presentation. (Courtesy of Riverside Unified School District)
The Riverside Unified School District Foundation awarded $9,000 to nine Career and Technical Education students through the new Tom Hunt Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The scholarship honors Tom Hunt, who advocated for vocational skills and hands-on learning throughout his career. Each student received $1,000 to help cover tuition, tools or certification fees as they pursue careers in fields including automotive repair, health sciences and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
"There are so many deserving students engaged in our CTE programs, who can benefit from this financial support as they pursue skilled trades and technical careers," said RUSD Foundation Director Knea Hawley.
The foundation plans to grow the scholarship endowment to support more students in future years.
This year's recipients include Nathan Jara from Arlington High School, Wendy Mendoza-Juarez from the Educational Options Center, Christian De La Vega from Martin Luther King Jr. High School, Brenden Mercado from John W. North High School, Yandel Rivera from Raincross High School, Andrew Rahner from Ramona High School, Ezekiel Figueroa from Riverside STEM Academy, Eddie Ascencio from Riverside Virtual School, and one student from Riverside Polytechnic High School.
Students were selected based on their academic performance and commitment to their Career and Technical Education programs.
"Tom was a strong advocate for expanding Career and Technical Education programs, ensuring that students are better prepared for future career paths," said RUSD Board of Education President Brent Lee. "It is a tremendous honor to launch this scholarship by supporting nine diverse and incredibly motivated students."
The scholarship awards are non-renewable, meaning students receive the one-time $1,000 payment to help launch their careers in skilled trades and technical fields.
