On Sept. 28, Eden Housing announced its 2023 Howard T. Collins Memorial Scholarship recipients, awarding $107,779 to 34 students in California, including two living in Aptos.
They are Hannah Mendoza, UC Berkeley, majoring in public health, and Gabriella Herrera Mendoza, majoring in justice studies/criminology at San Jose State University.
Both live at Seacliff Highlands.
Hannah Mendoza
Gabriella Mendoza
The other scholarship recipients are from Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties.
Individuals of all ages who live at properties managed by Eden Housing are eligible if they are enrolled at California colleges and universities.
The program, launched in 1993, is named in honor of former Eden housing board member Howard T. Collins, who was known for his work to expand opportunity and access to higher education. To date, the program has provided over $1 million in scholarships to more than 620 California residents.
“For many scholarship recipients, they are the first in their families to attend college,” said Eden Housing CEO Linda Mandolini. “By investing in their education dreams, we help improve their long-term career prospects, earning potential, personal development and financial security for their families. These students become actively engaged in their communities, contributing to society in ways that will benefit us all for years to come. We can’t wait to learn about their future accomplishments.”
Monica Chicas, who resides in Contra Costa County and is attending CSU East Bay, said the scholarship is a life-changing gift. She said she “feels blessed and honored” and that the scholarship will “allow her to focus on completing her assignments and attending classes, while also boosting her self-esteem.”
Congratulating the scholarship recipients were members of Eden’s board of directors and scholarship committee; Eden’s President and CEO Linda Mandolini; sponsor U.S. Bank and many elected officials including Congressman Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley.
The scholarship awards celebration video can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_jtMnUDm64.
Eden Housing is a nonprofit with 55 years of experience providing safe and affordable housing that helps families stay secure, allows communities to thrive, and solves many of the pressing housing challenges facing California cities. Since inception, the nonprofit has developed more than 10,000 affordable homes.
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Learn more at www.edenhousing.org.