Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 Edison International grant to help fund the 2019 Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund STEM Scholarship Program.

The Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund STEM Scholarship Program, created in 2011, honors the legacy of Rodney Fernandez, Cabrillo’s founder and Executive Director for 30 years (1981–2011). The Scholarship continues Fernandez’s legacy of community building by cultivating the leadership of residents to attain their goals, empower themselves and to take action and improve the quality of life in their communities.

The scholarship program provides funds for students who wish to pursue education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). To be eligible, students must be enrolled in and/or continuing college education, in the process of applying to an accredited institution, or enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, and household income must be less than or equal to 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Ventura County. High school applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply.

Margarita H. de Escontrias, Cabrillo’s CEO, said this grant will allow Cabrillo to provide STEM scholarships for underrepresented groups and lift financial barriers for those with aspirations for careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

“Funding from Edison International enables Cabrillo to provide scholarships to motivated and talented students, many from immigrant families who are first-generation college students. These grants will help youths in our community to reach their educational and leadership potential. They will help diversify our workforce in these fields and benefit our community,” she said.

In 2018, Cabrillo awarded a total of $12,500 to 13 recipients and received a total of 21 applications for the Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarships.
“Each year, members of our scholarship review panel are deeply moved and touched by the applications and appreciate the applicants’ willingness to share their experiences and struggles as well as their triumphs,” said de Escontrias.

In addition to high quality, safe and secure affordable housing, Cabrillo creates a ladder of opportunity for its low-income residents through comprehensive housing services and educational programs, which include the Rodney Fernandez STEM Scholarship program.

Cabrillo will schedule applicant information sessions in the spring. Dates for these sessions, applications, and additional details will be available on the Cabrillo website (cabrilloedc.org) in April. Please contact the Resident and Community Services Department at [email protected] with any questions.