Philanthropist Helps 129 Minority Students Attend Cabrillo

Local philanthropist and real estate developer George Ow, Jr. has a long-standing history of giving back, and 2012 is set to be his biggest year yet for helping Santa Cruz County youth. 

This year, Ow and his family are giving 129 $500 scholarships to local ethnic minority and disadvantaged high school seniors enrolling at Cabrillo College. According to Cabrillo's Director of Marketing and Communications Kristin Fabos, "this is the highest number of scholarships ever awarded in one year."

Over the last 23 years, Ow has given $368,000 to incoming Cabrillo students. See the list of this year's recipients from local high schools below. 

Soquel High School:
Cinthia Calles, Zoraida Garcia, Maya Louis-Bradshaw, Lladira Marquez , Gabriela Ortega, Elizabeth Rangel, Jisoo Rim, Oscar Rocha, Nha Tran, Kiara Villalobos Barreno

Aptos High School:
Melisa Arias, Juan Cardenas, Leslie Chavez-Colimote, Marlena Lighthill, Silvia Meza-Sanchez, Brandon Nieto, Eun-Ji Park, Courtney Rogers-Arriaga, Phillip Rojas, Tabitha Worden

Scotts Valley High School:
Michael Bobbit, Shanon Fischer, Edgar Pedraza, Casondra Valle

Santa Cruz High School:
Rodolfo Chavez Sixtos, Oscar Gaona, Damiana MacLennan, Michelle Miracle, Fanni Perez, Dayana Torres Martinez

Harbor High School:
Armando Carrillo, Karina Cerqueda, Maria Del Toro Diaz, Marvin Escobar, Amanda Gambon, Monica Hernandez, Ricardo Hilario, Maria Jovel, Marcos Magana, Maribel Martinez , Jessica Olvera, Alexis Ortiz, Edith Reyes, Khadijha Rodriguez, Jennifer Rodriguez Cortez, Aaron Stewart, Jackie Yeung, Karen Zamora Guerrero

Watsonville High School: 
Damaris Arciga, Cecilia Arevalo, Benjamin Benavidez, Perla Berumen, Zaira Calvillo, Stephanie Chavez, Itsel Contreras-Cuellar, Rocelia Cruz, Bernice Espindola Ramirez, Lizeth Garcia, Jaqueline Gomez, Maria Gonzalez, Yoni Hernandez, Esperanza Jaramillo, Erendira Lopez, Javier Martinez , Danielle Medina, Saul Medrano, Chantelle Mendoza, Mayra Montejano, Nelida Morua , Dalia Olmos Espindola, Monique Orejel, Lizbeth Ortiz, Martha Rivera, Leticia Torres, Nancy Vasquez 

Pajaro High School:
Jesus Aguilera, Mayra Alonzo, Edgar Ascencio, Monica Calderon, Francisco Cervantes-Arias, Elizabeth Contreras Ruiz, Cindy Fernandez, Yadira Grajeda, Marlene Hernandez, Yesenia Hernandez, Maria Jacobo, Fortunata Matias, Andrea Negrete-Rocha, Maria Ochoa, Anabel Ortiz, Wendi Perez, Luis Sedano

Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients! What do you think of the generous donation? Tell us in the comments!