Ventura, Calif.--The Ventura College Foundation received a $75,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco). The funds will enable the Ventura College Foundation and Ventura College to implement a Pathway to Health Careers For Low-Income Students program.

The grant will fund the conversion of course textbooks into zero-cost digital formats and contribute to a lending library for equipment such as microscopes, calculators, lab coats and safety goggles.

“Courses that lead to jobs in healthcare such as nursing require expensive books and materials that often create a financial barrier for low-income students to enter these professions,” says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director. “Digitizing textbooks and establishing a lending library for required equipment brings those costs down to zero. For many students, this grant will open the door to high-paying, in-demand medical jobs. It will also impact the entire county’s healthcare system as students graduate and enter the workforce.”

The grant is part of FHLBank San Francisco’s Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development (AHEAD) which funds programs that enable people living in lower-income communities to have the infrastructure and resources to fully participate in a changing economy.

The Ventura County Credit Union, a partner with FHLBank San Francisco, recommended Ventura College Foundation for the grant.

“We know the vital role Ventura College and the Ventura College Foundation play in lifting up students who come from lower economic households,” says Linda Rossi, president/CEO of Ventura County Credit Union. “The AHEAD grant will enable the college to make education for high-demand medical careers even more accessible and affordable.”

“We’re proud that for 20 years and counting, the AHEAD Program continues to make a positive impact by supporting important initiatives throughout the communities we serve, including the Pathways to Health Careers project by the Ventura College Foundation,” says Eric Cicourel, community investment officer for FHLBank San Francisco. “This innovative resource can be life-changing.”

Under the guidance of the Ventura College Dean and college science faculty in Biology and Chemistry, Aaron Jones will undertake the book digitalization. The process is expected to begin Spring 2025 and finish by Fall 2025.

For more information about healthcare programs offered by Ventura College, go to www.venturacollege.edu/career-and-major-communities/health-wellness.

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Winter Wonderland is a family friendly night where sports teams, clubs, and ASB members will be putting on games and crafts for the community to enjoy. We will be hosting food trucks, a snow machine, and Santa himself to take pictures with anyone interested from 5:30-6:30! This event will be held in between the agriculture buildings behind the cafeteria from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. The Second Street gate will be open, and entry is free! We hope to see you all there!
Thank you - Livia Cabral (ASB Commissioner of Publicity) and Josh Overton (ASB Advisor).

Ventura, Calif.—The Ventura College Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2025-26 school year.
November 29 is the application deadline for the Paramedic and Career Education scholarships. The deadline for all other scholarships is January 20, 2025. Scholarship recipients will be notified in April 2025 and receive their scholarship proceeds after August 1.

Students currently enrolled at Ventura College in the 2024-2025 academic year and who have completed at least six units in the semester they submit an application, are eligible to apply. Units earned in previous semesters at Ventura College count towards the unit requirement.

“The cost of education is a barrier for so many of our students. Scholarships are often what gives students the ability to continue with their education,” says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director.
This school year, 421 scholarships were awarded totaling $636,017. Ventura College continuing students at the school received an average of $2,417 in scholarships while students transferring to four-year universities received an average of $3,557.

While most scholarships are available for any study focus, many are for students in specific STEM majors including engineering, environmental science, and computer sciences, in addition to health care, nursing, business and education. Phoenix scholarships are for non-traditional students, including active military and veterans, who have taken time off and are now returning to college to continue their education.

Foundation scholarships are possible because of annual contributions and scholarship endowments from the Ventura College Foundation board of directors, donors, and corporate partners. “Our scholarship funding program is one of the largest in the region. Because of the generosity of so many, thousands of students over the years have received a quality education that enables them to go on to successful careers, support their families and make an impact in their communities,” says King.
Online workshops to help with the application process are offered from October through January.

For more about Ventura College Foundation scholarships, workshop dates and other financial assistance, go to https://venturacollegefoundation.org/scholarships or contact the foundation, at vcfoundation@vcccd.edu, 805-289-6461.