Twenty Students Awarded the Libertana Scholarship

This past year has been a difficult moment to be a college student. Between the online courses, schedule changes, and economic recession, students in 2020 have needed to navigate a new set of realities on top of the challenges already associated with pursuing higher education.

At Libertana, we believe profoundly in the transformative power of education, and we strive to support our employees as they and their families pursue their educational and professional goals. We have long offered tuition reimbursement programs to full-time office employees enrolled in university-level courses. During this unprecedented period, though, we felt we had an obligation to support our extended Libertana family, the children and grandchildren of our dedicated staff.

We launched the inaugural Libertana Scholarship in September to help provide a boost.

The Libertana Scholarship sought to award $1000 and $500 grants to the children and grandchildren of Libertana employees enrolled in an accredited four-year university, junior college, or vocational program. Applicants were asked to provide documentation noting their good standing within their institution and to pen a 300-word essay about their career goals.

Over the course of two weeks, an impressive group of students from institutions like UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Mount Holyoke College, CSUN, Pierce College, and Antelope Valley College applied for this opportunity. After careful deliberation, the Libertana Scholarship Committee—Felicia Miller, Gabriel Medina, and Mandeep Gardner—awarded 20 Libertana Scholarships to our inaugural group of Libertana Scholars.

This diverse group of 20 students from across the state has truly demonstrated a commitment to their higher education and professional goals. They have shown perseverance in the face of this unprecedented pandemic and economic moment. We were inspired by our applicants’ courage and abilities, and we are honored to help support these inspiring students as they continue to pursue their academic ambitions.

“These are the traits our future leaders embody, and we are honored to help support these students in their academic journeys,” the Libertana Scholarship Committee said in a statement.

Thank you to all who helped spread the word about this new opportunity—it was only with your help that we were able to support these remarkable students. As we prepare to offer future iterations of the Libertana Scholarship, we ask that you continue to refer the program to eligible applicants within your circle.

As the semester progresses, Libertana looks forward to sharing updates about our scholars and the great things they achieve. We are confident these students will work hard to improve their world, and we’re honored to be able to support them in their journey.