Four seniors who graduated this spring — including three from Sonoma Valley High School — have been awarded full, four-year scholarships to pursue creative arts degrees at Sonoma State University (SSU) this fall.
Isaac Calderon, Richie Cross and Adriel Velazquez — all from Sonoma Valley High School — as well as Hanna Alvarez from Pivot Charter School North Bay in Santa Rosa received the scholarships, which were awarded by the KHR McNeely Family Fund and the Sonoma International Film Festival.
“These four students demonstrated throughout their high school careers the commitment and dedication needed to explore their individual creative voices,” said Ginny Krieger, executive director of the Sonoma International Film Festival.
The KHR Family Fund supports the arts, education, health, the environment and social justice in Northern California and worldwide. Kevin McNeely is president and CEO of the KHR Family Fund, while his wife, Rosemary, is the vice president and their daughter, Hannah Rose, is the program adviser and marketing director.
“Rosemary, Hannah and I are dedicated to inspiring our youth through our philanthropic giving,” Kevin McNeely said. “Removing any barriers and providing resources so deserving students can explore and advance their futures gives us no greater pleasure.”
The scholarships will cover the students’ housing, meals, tuition and equipment, as long as they remain enrolled in their creative arts program and adhere to guidelines.
Calderon, the son of Amee Folliard and Tranquillino Enrique Calderson, received a KHR Family Fund Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship. He has displayed talents in the fine arts, performing arts, music and photography.
“I’ve always been interested in all forms of the creative arts, from literature and writing to painting and sculpting,” he said. “At Sonoma State, I aim to focus on my art through painting, sculpting and any other forms I have the opportunity to experiment in.”
He also hopes to participate in the university’s literature, history, philosophy and social justice programs.
“And if possible, I would love to continue to explore dancing throughout my career at SSU,” Calderon said.
Peter Hansen, the video arts and advanced video productions teacher at Sonoma Valley High School, said that Calderon is “one of the most grounded, driven and strategic young men” he has met in a long time.
“He wants to be an art teacher, and was singularly focused on going to college, despite personal and financial hardships,” Hansen said. “His art and unique perspective on life are represented on canvas.
“Seeing his art is like seeing a story unfold — full of meaning and subtlety. He will make an awesome art teacher one day.”
Calderon said he is relieved and excited to receive the scholarship.
“I could never have imagined that I would have this new chapter in my life without it,” he said. “It allows me to envision a much brighter and fresh future honoring my artistic personality and passions. I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Cross was awarded a KHR Family Fund Cinematic Arts & Technology Scholarship. The son of Molly Caselli and Steve Cross, he is a cinematographer, photographer and short filmmaker.
After applying for the scholarship, he anxiously awaited a decision from Sonoma State University. He vividly remembers when the letter arrived.
“It took me about five to 10 minutes to let it sink in before I opened it, my whole future in my hands,” Cross said. “When I opened it and saw ‘congratulations,”’ my whole body felt the news and my mom began crying. Such a special moment for me!”
He said that the scholarship will help him to pursue his lifelong passion for the media arts and realize his dream of becoming a cinematographer.
“Filmmaking, storytelling and everything in between drive and inspire me every day,” he said. “This opportunity is being shared with my ultra-talented best friend, Adriel (Velazquez), as well, which means we can collaborate and have the time of our lives, expenses paid for. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Hansen said that Cross is known as “Richie Lens” because of his skill and innate abilities to capture stunning cinematic moments. His film, “Obedience,” won the Best Picture award at a Sonoma Valley High School Media Arts Program showcase.
“He sees light and subject differently than most,” Hansen said. “He seems to understand that the relationship between lens, light, camera and movement is like a language. Not many speak this language, but Richie was born to it.”
Hansen has enjoyed being able to provide Cross with high quality lenses and other equipment to help him explore and develop this craft.
“I have also enjoyed watching Ritchie finesse the art of story telling to augment his camera work,” Hansen said. “He will never forget my mantra: ‘Story, story, story. Beginning, middle, end. One scene builds the next. Make movies for an audience — not yourself.’”
Like Cross, Velazquez received a KHR Family Fund Cinematic Arts & Technology Scholarship. The son of Maria and Reimundo Velazquez, he is a prolific short filmmaker, screenwriter, director and producer.
“I am also very interested in acting and music,” he said. “I intend to pursue the film program at SSU as well as possibly minor in theater and/or take acting classes.”
He plans to forge a career as a feature film director.
“I often say to Adriel, ‘You are doomed,’” Hansen said. “Laughingly, we then go on to say how he really has no other choice but to be a filmmaker.
“Light, lens, directing, acting, writing, editing … they all consume him in the most positive of ways, as demonstrated in his two-hour feature film, ‘Bad Night in Gotham,’ that was recently completed.”
Hansen said that Velazquez is a tireless worker.
“He commands the respect of his peers through his dedication,” he said. “His energy is infectious and as demonstrated in his recent feature film, his cast rises to the occasion, just as it will when he is a director of feature films in the future.”
Velazquez said he would not be able to attend Sonoma State University without the scholarship.
“I can now just focus on school and be completely consumed with my art and learning the craft,” he said.
Hannah Alvarez was awarded a KHR Family Fund Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship. She plans to utilize her stage and performing arts background to become a teacher and help children to find their voice and confidence in their early years of development.
The scholarships that the students received were conceived to inspire the next generation of visual arts and creators as well as to provide the necessary resources to make the dreams of deserving high school students a reality.
Two Sonoma Valley High School students, Jacob Ceron Echevarria and Sakcham (Sam) Mishra, were awarded the first scholarships in 2023 and are now attending Sonoma State University.
Krieger is pleased that more students were given scholarships this year.
“We were fortunate to have (contributions from) longtime Sonoma International Film Festival donors and supporters, with KHR McNeely Family Fund spearheading this expansion, which allowed us to double the number of scholarship recipients in 2024,” she said.
Hansen said that the driving force behind the program is to provide scholarships to students who may otherwise not be able to attend a four-year university.
“But also, typically those who are awarded the scholarships have demonstrated a talent or an aptitude for a skill or craft — like filmmaking — that might not be adequately served at the local junior college level,” he said. “Scholarships are extremely motivating to the students who receive such an honor and opportunity.
“Scholarships respect and recognize their hard work and passion, and validate their dreams for the future.”
Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at daniel.johnson@sonomanews.com.
