Planting seeds for tomorrow, the non-profit California Strawberry Festival has awarded $6,000 in scholarships to deserving students throughout Ventura County, it was recently announced by Sumiko Kato, CSF board member and scholarship chairman of the Dr. Kato Scholarship Award Committee.

Giving back is a part of the Festival’s foundation and this year’s 28th annual celebration will take place the third weekend in May, the 21 and 22nd of 2011. Over the last three decades, nearly $30,000 has been donated through this memoriam scholarship named after the late Dr. Tsujio Kato, Oxnard’s former mayor who was instrumental in the creation of the heralded Festival celebration.

Deserving recipients included: Irene Dang of Oxnard High School: Jennifer Rodriguez of Pacifica High: Jingwei Zhou of Adolfo Camarillo High; Kenneth Joseph Lee of Rio Mesa High, and Vianney Cossyleon of Hueneme High School.
According to Festival Director Patrick Mullin, “Providing ways to assist the community beyond Festival weekend is an integral part of everything we do. By partnering with the California Strawberry Commission, we also help fund annual scholarships to children of strawberry farm works to show appreciation to those whose jobs play such a vital role in our strawberry industry’s success.”

Awards are based on merit and funding goes to high school seniors and also continuing college students. To date, programs have reached 264 students with awards exceeding $500,000. Additionally, a $25,000 endowment scholarship at California State University Channel Islands is completely Festival funded, offering another avenue of development for future generations.

More information about the California Strawberry Festival, now ranked tops in the nation, is available at www.strawberry-fest.org. With all-day entertainment, rides and attractions, contests, fabulous strawberry foods and arts & crafts, the fruitful celebration is a “must not miss.” General admission is $12, seniors 62+ are $8 and children ages 5-12 are $5. Kids 4 and under are free. Active military and dependents with ID are $8. Hours are 10:00a.m. to 6:30p.m. both days. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.strawberry-fest.org. The California
Strawberry Festival Information Line is 1 888 288-9242.