Don Diego Scholarship Foundation

Junior Livestock Auction standout Elizabeth (Lizzy) Habib, is making great use of her 2020 Don Diego scholarship at Modesto Junior College, where she is majoring in Agriculture Education/Business Management. We look forward to steering many more awesome students along their career path in 2021. App deadline: March 29. https://dondiegoscholarship.org/scholarships/

Don Diego Chair Emeritus and current Board member Roxana Foxx, pictured here with her husband, Robert E. Hertkza, MD, has created a Roxana Foxx Endowed Scholarship that will provide an annual $1,000 college scholarship to a deserving student. Learn more about our Endowed Scholarship opportunities here. https://dondiegoscholarship.org//endowed-named-scholarshi/

Allison Shao won Don Diego’s 2020 top Exhibitor/Participant scholarship, which is helping propel this ambitious and intelligent Scholar on an exciting pre-Med track at Occidental. Where might a Don Diego scholarship take you? https://dondiegoscholarship.org/scholarships/

This just in from 4-H: Registration for the 2021 Virtual 4-H Youth Summit is open. A great opportunity for members ages 11-13 to learn how to use your Spark to focus on personal improvement, explore college and careers possibilities, and create positive change. https://ucanr.edu/sites/4-HYouthSummits/ And remember, 4-H students: you’re eligible to win a Don Diego scholarship. https://dondiegoscholarship.org/scholarships/

Apps are starting to roll in! It’s already March 1; only 28 days left to apply. Your college scholarship awaits. Deadline: March 29. https://dondiegoscholarship.org/scholarships/

This year, Don Diego was delighted to award Sasha Jouldjian a 1st-gen American and 1st-gen college student, the top $5,000 Employee Scholarship and coveted $5,000 Spanjian Family Scholarship, annually bestowed upon an exceptional student. Exceptional perfectly describes this impressive Coronado High graduate, now a Boston College freshman. Sasha says, I plan to become a family law attorney to advocate for the rights of abused women and children. I thank Don Diego for helping make higher education accessible to all students. We thank Sasha for striving to make the world a better place!

The holidays are just around the corner. We have the perfect gift idea: a personalized Don Diego Legacy Brick to be installed at the Fairgrounds once it reopens. A priceless memento at a reasonable price: $150. You also can purchase a duplicate to display at home. https://dondiegoscholarship.org/produ/legacy-brick-program/

Lots of good energy at today’s Don Diego Board meeting, where everything is Zooming ahead despite a challenging year. Many exciting programs and opportunities to come, so stay tuned! At the meeting, former Chair Roxana Foxx was given the prestigious title of Chair Emeritus. Executive Director Chana Mannen (shown here, on screen) presented Roxana with a beautiful floral arrangement. www.dondiegoscholarship.org

Ramona’s Olivia vanTol is making great use of her 2020 Don Diego Zable Foundation 4-H $5,000 Scholarship to major in Engineering at Valparaiso University. She is the third in her family to earn a Don Diego scholarship through hard work, great academics and dedication to agriculture and community. We applaud Olivia and her sisters Kaylin and RaeAnne.

2020’s Delana Sehnert is using her Vocational Education scholarship to attend a high-quality Paul Mitchell School program that puts her on the cutting edge of becoming a first-class cosmetologist. Make your appointment now she’s bound to be a busy and successful stylist!

Five score and five years ago, on October 9, 2015, Domingo Tomás Hernández Bethencourt was born in the Canary Islands, Spain. At age five, he immigrated with his family to America. The rest is San Diego County Fair history! Shown here starring in Latin Lovers with Lana Turner, this dashing actor, known as Tommy Hernandez, became the Fair’s welcoming ambassador and after his death in 1984, the namesake of our Don Diego Scholarship Foundation. We hope that our Foundation and our fantastic Scholars over the years have done him proud. ¡Feliz cumpleaños, Don Diego! http://dondiegoscholarship.org/abo/the-spirit-of-don-diego/

Future dentist Kevin Ramales-Alcaide is using his 2020 Don Diego Employee scholarship to sink his teeth into Biology at UC Riverside. This hard-working and personable young man is on track to achieve a successful career. Kudos to Kevin and our entire Class of 2020! https://dondiegoscholarship.org/scholarships/yearbook/

2020 Scholar Lauryn Jarvis graduated in the top 10% of her El Camino High class with a 4.04 GPA, a gift for music and dance, and a deep commitment to service. A recommender praised Lauryn’s work ethic as uncommon. Lauryn is majoring in Cinema and TV Arts at CSU Fullerton. Another Don Diego star!

Sending a shout-out and virtual hug to Don Diego Scholars-turned-Firefighters: 2000’s Jason Poppert and 2019’s Nick La Rocco (pictured here). We are proud to have supported these courageous men who now keep us safe.

22.5% of USC’s 3,460 incoming 2020 freshmen are first-gen college students. Don Diego Scholar Way Hlaing is one of them! This incredible young man is majoring in Environmental Science on his way to becoming an environmental lawyer. We wish him and all our 2020 Scholars the very best!

Thanks to Board member John Hoeflich and his family, who this year established a one-time $20,000 CGW Family Foundation Scholarship a first of its kind recipient Nikki Arias, 2020 Julian High Valedictorian and Miss Julian, is entering her exciting freshman year at UC Davis, where she will major in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology on her way to becoming a doctor. We wish her and our entire Class of 2020 the best as they pursue their college and career goals.

Our September Spotlight is 2011 Scholar Daniel Menno, who is building a great career for himself and a better world for us all. https://dondiegoscholarship.org/september-2020-scholar-spo/

Here are Don Diego Board member Steve Shewmaker and his lovely wife Francie enjoying the 2016 Gala, where we celebrated the 30th anniversary of our Foundation. More fun photos over the years here. https://dondiegoscholarship.org/photo-gallery/