Seven Orange County high school seniors each received a $10,000 scholarship from the Orange County Education Foundation in a ceremony hosted at Stonefire Grill this past May.
This year’s recipients included three students from Pacifica High School, three students from Valley Vista High School and one from University High School.
“The mission of Orange County Education Foundation is to support education and public schools for the benefit of disabled, at-risk and/ or Native American youth that are living and graduating [from] high schools in Orange County,” Felix Rocha, the organization’s secretary and treasurer, said. 'These students don't have the money to go to college, buy their schoolbooks nor their tuition, and the money to attend college and better their lives in the future.'
To qualify, students must meet at least one of the eligibility criteria and pursue further education. The foundation encourages applications from students enrolling in all forms of post-secondary education, including four-year and two-year colleges, trade schools and technician certificate programs.
“We want to help the kids to get out of the situation they’re in, [improve] their life and society, have a better education and support themselves,” Kathy Rocha, president of the organization, said.
The scholarships are funded through the estate of Angelo Madrigal, who dies in 2021 and appointed longtime Fountain Valley residents Felix and Kathy Rocha to carry out his mission helping students pursue education.
“We want the students to come back and pay back to the community and this organization, so they can stand and tell others [their story],” Felix Rocha said. “We want them to show others that they’re going to succeed if they push themselves a little.”
Students who meet the criteria and are interested in the scholarship should ask their high school guidance counselor to contact OCEF, Inc.