A MeasureA Measure of ourof Missionour Mission ImprovingImproving Educational EducationalAttainment Attainment One Student at a Time. One Student at a Time.

Page 1 Year in Review

$428,350 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

74 175 HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUING COLLEGE STUDENTS AWARDED STUDENTS AWARDED

658 91 APPLICATIONS VOLUNTEER REVIEWED EVALUATORS

$800 $1,771 AVERAGE SCHOLARSHIP AVERAGE SCHOLARSHIP FOR UNDERGRADS AT FOR UNDERGRADS AT TWO-YEAR SCHOOLS FOUR-YEAR SCHOOLS

82% 409 ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS ARE FIRST IN STUDENTS DENIED FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE FUNDING - TOGETHER, WE CAN CHANGE THAT!

Page 2 Dear Friends, In 2015, Kern Community Foundation launched Kern Futures, embracing Kern’s educational attainment as a core strategic initiative. We are rooted in a belief that education begins early and reaches beyond high school, that it is a prerequisite to success in a knowledge-based economy, that it is for everyone, and that it is a public good. To this end, we adopted a three-fold strategy to ensure long-term, impactful results. With assistance from a generous 5-year grant from the College Futures Foundation, we cultivated a robust portfolio of accessible scholarship funds, that have allowed us to award over 1,000 scholarships, totaling nearly $2.2 million since 2015. Perhaps more importantly, our portfolio of scholarship funds has grown to 29 individual funds, totaling nearly $3 million – many of which are permanently endowed, granting scholarships to Kern County students for generations to come. Next, we developed a comprehensive College Success Program to support our award recipients. You see, for us, scholarship giving is not just about getting students to college. Instead we see scholarships as investments in the future and, more than anything, we want students to complete college, university, or even vocational school and successfully enter the workforce. Finally, we convened education and community leaders, connecting existing efforts to build greater momentum and opportunities for success while also identifying a common agenda for improving student outcomes. The result has been the Kern Education Pledge – a county-wide collective impact model linking together school districts and higher education institutions. The trajectory for increasing educational attainment is promising, but clearly there is more to do. In 2019 alone, we turned away more than 400 deserving applicants due to lack of funding. With your help, Kern Community Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in Kern County. Together we can increase access to educational opportunities and lighten the burden for Kern County students determined to better themselves. Please review the following pages – we think you will be inspired – and consider joining us in this work.

Kristen Beall Watson President & CEO

Page 3 Program Overview ern Futures, a strategic initiative of Kern Community Foundation, is grounded in a commitment to increase the level of educational attainment in Kern County. KWith one in four Kern residents living below the federal poverty level and just one in five Kern residents possessing an associate degree or higher, education is the single most important investment we can make to reduce poverty, boost economic growth and increase in- come levels. The case for pursuing post-secondary education could not be clearer. College graduates are generally healthier, more financially secure, and more actively engaged in their communities than their peers with simply a high school diploma.

Why Kern County Needs Educational Attainment Education reduces poverty, boosts economic growth, and increases income.

1 in 4 $23,850 Federal Poverty Level Kern Residents Live $40,508 National median income in Poverty for workers with some college or an Associate’s Degree

22% 39% Kern County residents age 25 and older residents age 25 and older with an Associate’s Degree or higher. with an Associate’s Degree or higher.

Starting in 2020, 67% of California jobs require education beyond high school.

Education Makes Invest in Education A Difference Through Kern

Research shows that college graduates: Community Foundation • Will earn nearly $1 million more over the • Fund an annual scholarship award course of a 40-year working life • Are more likely to have a pension or retire- • Establish a permanently endowed ment account scholarship fund • Have higher employment rates • Live an average of nine years longer • Provide unrestricted support • Vote and volunteer more – your gift will be used where it is • Pay more taxes most needed • Require less public assistance • The growing cost of attending college presents a Donate in honor or memory of a daunting task for many students and their families, friend, colleague, or loved one however. Among the Class of 2018, 69% of stu- • Create a lasting legacy gift to dents took out student loans, and they graduated ensure that this work continues with an average debt of $29,800

Page 4 Program Impact

Cumulative Impact Since 2015 $2.2 Million in Scholarships Awarded to More Than 1,000 Local Students

Since 2015, Kern Community Foundation has embraced a three-fold strategy to ensure long-term, impactful results. Here are a few highlights:

Convene Kern’s Educational Establish a Robust Develop a Comprehensive Leaders to Create a Blue- Portfolio of Accessible College Success Program to print for Student Success: Scholarship Funds: Support Scholarship Launched in 2015, the Kern Since 2015, 1,069 scholarships Recipients: Education Pledge unites edu- have been awarded totaling Our College Success Program cational leaders at every level $2,151,828. Additionally, Kern focuses on getting students (PK-20) with community stake- Community Foundation’s schol- through their postsecondary holders to embrace an integrat- arship portfolio has grown to education—and it’s working! ed Cradle to Career solution some 27 scholarship funds to- Fifty-eight percent of students using principles of continuous taling nearly $3 million. Many who participated in the pro- improvement and a collective of these funds are permanently gram since 2015 and received impact framework. endowed and will grant scholar- scholarship awards consistently “No single program or institu- ships to Kern County students during that time, graduated in tion can singlehandedly solve the for generations to come. 4 years. complex, large-scale, education and workforce readiness chal- $2.2 Million 4-Year Graduation Rates lenges facing our community.” in Scholarships for KCF Award - Kern Education Pledge Awarded to Recipients: 1,069 58% Local Students

Page 5 Aout ur Students

What Kern County igh Schools ave They Attended Garces Memorial High School Robert F. Kennedy High School Bakersfield Christian High School Golden Valley High School Rosamond High School Highland High School Shafter High School Burroughs High School Independence High School South High School Centennial High School Kern Valley High School Stockdale High School Cesar E. Chavez High School Liberty High School Taft Union High School Delano High School Maricopa High School Tehachapi High School East Bakersfield High School McFarland High School Wasco High School Foothill High School West High School Frontier High School North High School Wonderful College Prep Academy

Where o They o American University Bakersfield College Baylor University Boise State University Brigham Young University California Aeronautical University California Baptist University California College of the Arts California State University, Bakersfield California State University, Channel Islands California State University, Chico California State University, Dominguez Hills California State University, Fresno California State University, Long Beach California State University, Monterey Bay California State University, Northridge California State University, Pomona California State University, Sacramento California State University, San Luis Obispo California State University, San Marcos California State University, Stanislaus Cerro Coso Community College Coastline Community College College of the Canyon Colorado State University Dordt University Fresno Pacific University Grand Canyon University Harvard University Monmouth College Norwich University Pepperdine University Purdue University Rose Hulman Institute of Technology Saint Mary's College of California San Diego State University San Francisco State University San Jose State University Scripps College Stanford University Texas A&M University Thomas More University Union College University of California, Berkeley • University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Merced University of California, Riverside University of California, San Diego • University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Redlands University of Southern California •

What Types o Colleges o What o They Study Arts Environment 4% They Attend 5% 50% Literature/ Business Language/ 10% Social Sciences 40% 27%

30%

20%

10%     0 STEM California University Private/ California 54% State of Out of Community University California State College

Page 6 Ramanjit Mann

human rights. After her first debate at the state capital. I also want to tournament, she knew she wanted study abroad and love meeting to be a human rights lawyer. new people and languages,” said Ramanjit co-founded the United Ramanjit. Nations International Children’s A Links for Life scholarship Emergency Fund at Independence recipient, Ramanjit is grateful to in an effort to increase awareness Kern Community Foundation for of human rights issues and provide their support. “I honestly thank this more opportunities for public Foundation so much. They are so service. Ramanjit’s involvement invested in our education and put amanjit Mann, a 2019 in UNICEF helped solidify her so much effort into making sure we Independence High school goals to one day focus on women succeed. It is really heartwarming graduate,R has big plans to maintain and children’s rights as a lawyer. “I to receive not only financial assis- an active role at the University really love politics and want to get tance, but also a support system of California, Davis. Early in my bachelor’s degree in political along with the scholarship,” said her high school career, Ramanjit science. I want to join student Ramanjit. joined Forensics and instantly government and do an internship felt a connection to the field of

Stories of Inspiration

Carlos Rodriguez Orozco

s a California Polytechnic and Products. “When it comes to on joining clubs and participat- State University, San Luis me seeing a future career, I like the ing in activities in college. To the ObispoA student, Carlos Rodriguez idea of being an entrepreneur and Foundation, Carlos says, “Thank Orozco plans to pursue his pas- being able to do my own thing but you. The Foundation helps me with sions while experiencing college to I also like the idea of building and planning to go to college and it’s the fullest. making things,” said Carlos. nice knowing I can always rely on it A 2019 Centennial High School Carlos is also proud of his in- for resources and advice.” graduate, Carlos developed an volvement in Militantes de Cristo, interest in engineering after joining a religious club at Centennial that Centennial’s Robotics club. He dis- guides students through their faith covered his love for problem-solv- while serving the community. He ing and troubleshooting and plans hopes to join Cal Poly’s Rotaract to major in mechanical engineering Club and expand his interests by at Cal Poly. In addition to engi- joining nature groups and exploring neering, Carlos is passionate about the culinary arts. business, actively participating in As a Caratan scholarship recipient, the Virtual Business program at he is grateful to be able to focus less Centennial as the Director of Sales on funding his education and more

Page 7 Francisco De La Pena cation. While earning his bachelor’s some great people,” says Francisco. degree in Business Administration, As a result of his accomplishments, Francisco found many ways to Francisco received the CSUB stay involved throughout his four Student Leadership Hall of Fame years at California State University, award. Bakersfield. He represented his As a recipient of the Oscar and classmates as Director of Business Libbie Rudnick Scholarship and Public Administration in throughout college, Francisco was the CSUB Student Government able to engage with his school’s Associated Union, Inc. and is a community and focus on his alancing school work and founding father of CSUB’s Alpha studies. “To Kern Community staying involved with the Sigma Phi fraternity. “Alpha Sigma Foundation, thank you for all the campusB community can be chal- was a good opportunity to start help. I’m really glad a resource lenging, but Francisco De La Pena, from scratch and really make an like this is available for students,” a first-generation college student impact. Although it was a lot of said Francisco, who was recently and Bakersfield High School work and I put in a lot of hours, accepted into CSUB’s Master of alumnus, proved that anything is I really got a lot out of it and met Public Administration program. possible with hard work and dedi-

Stories of Success

Raven Dean

aven Dean, a 2019 graduate arship throughout college and is psychology to high school students of the University of Cali- grateful for the financial assistance would be fun,” she said. “Thank you fornia,R Los Angeles, developed a it offered her alongside the oppor- so much to the Foundation for all passion for teaching through her tunities it allowed her to pursue. your support,” said Raven. “I don’t involvement in clubs on campus. With a major in psychology, Raven know what my college experience With UCLA’s Project Spell, Ra- developed an interest in mental would have been like without it.” ven worked with service staff on health and continues to integrate campus who wanted to learn or what she has learned into educa- improve their English. She was also tional spaces around her. a part of Proyecto de Jornaleros, an Raven is currently employed at organization helping workers in California Language Academy in the community advocate for their Los Angeles working with students rights by providing them with lan- who wish to advance their En- guage resources and support. glish skills. She finds her job very A West High School graduate, rewarding and considers becoming Raven is the first in her family a teacher one day. “This feels like to go to college. She received the something I would enjoy doing for Oscar and Libbie Rudnick Schol- the rest of my life. I think teaching

Page 8 Our College Success Program

cholarships are a powerful tool for getting students to college, but to change our outcomes, we need to ensure more students are completing college. Our comprehensive College Success Program is designed toS support your awardees while protecting your investment. Here’s how:

County-Wide • Comprehensive Student Outreach: We blanket Kern County with dozens of in-person presentations to hundreds of students and counselors. • Coordinated Messaging: With a multi-layered marketing approach that Student includes print, television, radio and social media, our applicant pool is large and diverse. Outreach • Donor Driven Awards: You select the criteria, we find the eligible students.

• One Online Application: With just a single submission, students become An E cient candidates for dozens of scholarship opportunities. • Due Diligence: We collect all the necessary documentation and verify student eligibility. Application • Thorough Evaluation: Each student essay is read and scored twice by a small army of volunteer evaluators. Process • Student Selection Options: Donors may use a committee to select recipients or allow us to make the final selection.

Continous • Academic Advising: We help your awardee identify the right classes and understand the requirements to graduate before they start college. • Career Counseling: What will your awardee be doing after college? We’ll be Follow-Up sure they’ve thought ahead. • Annual Personal Growth Projects: From personal finance to connecting & Support with local industry leaders, we encourage awardees to go beyond academics.

Stewarding • Coordination with Financial Aid Offices: We ensure that each awardee is accessing all available funding to maximize your investment. • Payment Processing: Scholarship awards are paid directly to each awardee’s Your school after proof of enrollment is provided. • Transcript Review: How is your awardee doing quarter to quarter? We’ll Resources check-in and find out.

Page 9 Invest in Local Students

e make investing in local students easier than you think. Any one of the following options provides students with financial support and access to our College Success Program, increasing opportunities forW persistence and completion. SCHOLARSHIPS TOGETHER SCHOLARSHIPS NOW SCHOLARSHIPS FOREVER Support students Support students Support students as a community. one year at a time. now and forever

Invest in students now to create a Use Kern Community Foundation’s You create a permanently endowed better future for all. Your contribution robust scholarship platform to make fund to award scholarships forever. is pooled with others to create a your company or organization’s We work with you to design schol- permanent endowment, awarding scholarship campaign easier and more arship criteria and then handle all of scholarships in perpetuity. Your gift is impactful. You tell us the criteria and the administrative details, using our leveraged for greater impact. award amounts and we take care of all knowledge and experience to protect the rest! your investment. Donation Amount Donation Amount Donation Amount You Choose! $1,000 Minimum $25,000 Minimum

Fee Fee Fee None! $100 Per Award Standard Endowed Fund Fee + 1% if using a Customized Selection Committee

Examples: Examples: • Links for Life – Mary Anne Walz • George & Helen Stewart Memo- Scholarships rial Scholarship Fund • Edison International STEM • Nickel Family Scholarship for Scholarships Agricultural Education Fund • Bakersfield Rotary – Waterman • Caratan Family Scholarship Fund Foundation Scholarships

The David Moore Agricultural Scholarship Fund

hen local farmer and two graduates of Kern County high the scholarship fund. “There is a agriculture leader, David schools who wished to pursue a person in each family that binds Moore,W died in 2001, Western career in agriculture. Since 2014, everyone together, and my grandfa- Growers Association collected the Fund has awarded over $15,000 ther was that person for our family. contributions from friends, family in scholarships to deserving This scholarship fund is a way for members and business associates to students studying agricultural and me to establish a permanently-endowed environmental plant science, ag help scholarship fund at Kern Commu- business, and even animal science carry nity Foundation in his memory. at such esteemed schools as Fresno on his Over the years, the Fund’s assets State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo legacy.” grew and in May 2014, under the and Iowa State. leadership of David’s grandson, “My grandfather was my hero,” John Moore III, the David Moore says John when asked about why Agricultural Scholarship Fund a busy young farmer like himself awarded its first scholarships to would get involved in overseeing Page 10 2019 Evaluators hank you to our community volunteers who generously donate time to read first-time scholarship applications. Over a four-week period, spanning March and April, 91 evaluators read 460 student essays in 2019. Each essay is read by two separateT evaluators and given two sets of scores – one for content and one for quality. These scores are combined to calcu- late an average that is added to our internal scoring rubric. Our volunteers play a critical and impartial role in the awarding process and we are grateful for their commitment.

Antonio Alfaro Jeff Green Ann Pena Marcus Barnette Oscar Guevara Patricia Perez-Ramirez Joanne Barrick Samantha Guillory Michael Powell David Bartels Jeffrey Gutierrez Alexandra Rieke Victoria Barton Hillary Haenes Emiliano Rivera Christine Birkholz Katherine Hall Susan Rizo Alyse Braaten Deneene Roberson Nichole Hamblin Esther Brandon Angelica Rodriguez Kim Bravo Lindsay Harrison Monica Rodriguez Dom Buck Tina Healy Lilly Rosenberger Lydia Caceres Ryan Hernandez Remy Rueda Jessica Carrillo Kim Hobbs Vanessa Sanchez Amber Chiang Debra Jackson Steve Sanders Kat Clowes Odella Johnson Jeffrey Schroer Chandra Commuri Georgeann Key-Miller Billy Shollenberger Esparanza Contreras Nicole Knauer Eric Slagle Jeff Coomber Libia Le Amy Smith Mike Crouch Agustin Lee Judy Snyder Allie Cushnyr Justin Leland Kathy Stiles Kerri Davis Kate Tandy Jaime Lopez David Denison Frederick Thomas Jeremy Doyle Christopher Lowe Jennifer Thurston Bob Eichenberg Jessica Mathews Teresa Twisselman Gabriela Figueroa Linda McDemott Meredith Valenzuela Carlos Flores Colleen McGauley Tonya Vallicela Christy Fraley Lorenzo Michaels Julia Vlahos Maribel Galvan Denise Mondragon Clarissa Wilstead Gisela Gaona John Moore Tijera Worley Martha Gonzalez Ali Moser Joey Yi Valerie Gorospe Deirdre O’Rourke Ulya Young

Scholarship Funds

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Kappa Eta Lambda Chapter Honor Run Scholarship Fund Scholarship Fund Jack Beaton Memorial Scholarship Fund Arvin Union Congregational Church Scholarship Fund Kern Futures Scholarship Fund Arvin Women’s Club - Ellen Kovacevich Scholarship Fund Kern Futures Scholarships Now Fund Bailey Schweitzer Memorial Scholarship Fund Kern Futures Scholarships Together Fund Caratan Family Scholarship Fund Kern High School District Counselors Scholarship Fund CCS Transition Scholarship Fund Larry Carr Memorial Scholarship Fund David Anderson Athletic Scholarship Fund Manuel Gonzales Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund David Moore Agricultural Scholarship Fund Nickel Family Scholarship for Agricultural Education Fund Derek Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund Oscar and Libbie Rudnick Scholarship Fund Dr. Joseph E. Anderson Scholarship Fund Sean E. Farley Memorial Scholarship Fund Dr. Richard P. Pierucci Scholarship Fund Sheriff ’s Employees’ Benefit Association Scholarship Fund East Bakersfield High School Class of 1957 - Ron Robison The Arvin Women’s Club Scholarship Fund Memorial Scholarship Fund The George and Helen Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund Eunice Sears Scholarship for Music Fund

Page 11 The Kern Futures initiative is grounded in the belief that

Education begins early and reaches beyond high school Kern Futures uses the term “education” to refer to the continuum that begins with early childhood preparation and results in the attainment of valuable postsecondary credentials and degrees.

Education is a necessity Education is a prerequisite to success in a knowledge-based economy. Our future workforce must pursue and complete a postsecondary credential or degree beyond high school.

Education is for everyone Educational attainment rates among low-income students and students of color are significantly lower than those of other students. Kern Futures is committed to closing these gaps.

Education is a public good Educational opportunities and attainment are critical to a just and equitable society, strong economy, and healthy community.

3300 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 220, Bakersfield, CA 93301 p (661) 325-5346 f (661) 325-5358 www.KernFoundation.org