New $41,500 vocational education scholarship announced

DEL MAR – The Don Diego Scholarship Foundation has announced the creation of an annual $2,500 scholarship earmarked specifically for graduating high school seniors planning to pursue a vocational education curriculum at a community college or accredited trade school; with the goal of obtaining an AA/AS degree or certificate.

Debuting in 2015, this “vocational ed” scholarship brings the number of annual scholarships offered to 13, for a total annual monetary award of $41,500. The 2015 scholarship cycle begins in January 2015. Applications will be due March 16, 2015. Finalist interviews will take place in April, with winning recipients announced in May.

Board chair Paul Ecke III explained, “Our new vocational ed scholarship expands Don Diego’s educational reach, broadens our response to real-life job needs and enhances our value to the San Diego community. With the annual tuition at many local community colleges ranging from $1,100 to $1,400 per year, this $2,500 scholarship can take a student a long way toward achieving his or her career goal.”

Ecke said the fund can help students who would like to pursue “skilled trade” careers from veterinarian techs to medical assistants to electrician and other jobs that are key to a healthy, diverse economy.

Tax-deductible contributions can be made at http://www.dondiegoscholarship.org.