Students have benefited from his enthusiasm, knowledge and good humor. The Oxnard professor is the 15th individual to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1995. The largest such fund ever established for higher education, the scholarship program began this fall. I m proud that five of our students, competing nationwide, have been selected for this prestigious scholarship program, which gives them an unprecedented opportunity to continue their studies and fulfill their dreams, said Santa Monica College president Dr. Piedad F. Robertson, who serves on the Gates Millennium Scholars Program Advisory Council. More than 62,000 students nationwide were nominated this year, with 4,000 selected.
Scholarships vary depending on the individual s current financial aid packages.
The awards cover books and living expenses in addition to tuition and fees. The selected students were Quan Chau, Annette Ford, Dawn Graham, Debbie Gutierrez, and Jayme Wilson. Sutton considers the donation a mere token of the gratitude she feels toward the college and its staff. This school has been a big turning point in my life, said the digital arts major. It s given me the confidence to walk into places and say, I m a graphic designer, give me a job.