40th Annual Scholarship Ceremony honors hardworking students

Michael S. Hamilton addresses students who received scholarships this year. (Nick Alaimo/Lariat)

Over 350 students received scholarships at the 40th Annual Saddleback Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Friday May 13, 2016. The recipients were chosen for their academic achievements, leadership and service towards the campus and the community.

The event opened with a welcoming to all scholarship receivers by William Vasseitzadeh, the President of the Associated Student Government. Vassetizadeh joked with the audience that this might be his “last duty as ASG President” which garnered a good amount of laughs.

Michael S. Hamilton, president of the Saddleback College Foundation Board of Governors presented the Donor of the Year award to the Tuttle-Click Automotive Group. Tuttle-Click has partnered with Saddleback College to offer scholarships and employment to students entering the automotive technology certificate program.

M. Mahboob Akhter, secretary of the Saddleback College Foundation Board of Governors then presented the student scholarships. Nicole Huddleston, Cpl. Greg Zaborski, Jr., and Tanya Villegas all gave inspiring speeches on how they reached their current academic standing. Other presenters intermittently gave out awards including Michelle Brough, Esq., the 2nd vice president and treasurer of the Board of Governors Executive Committee as well as Dr. Morgan Barrows, faculty representative.

Finishing the scholarship presentations, Dr. Barbara Cox, chair of the college’s business department faculty, shared why she is a donor.

President Tod A. Burnett closed the ceremony with a few parting words.

“Many of our generous contributors have invested in the long-term success of our students, our college and our community by creating or contributing to an endowed scholarship, “Burnett said. “What makes endowed scholarships unique is that the foundation invests the money and only spends the interest, thereby providing awards in perpetuity. We are incredibly proud of the difference it makes to our students.”

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