Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..
Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Updated: May 3, 2025 @ 4:18 pm
Denise Gill
Denise Gill
The Oneonta Club Foundation is a role model. And this year, it is celebrating its 50th anniversary by once again giving out three scholarships of $10,000 and two grants to South Pasadena teachers at its annual banquet on May 12.
The awards are the largest individual amounts given to graduating seniors among many such scholarships given out by local groups, organizations and individuals, according to Denise Gill, an English teacher at South Pasadena High School, who organizes the annual scholarship night. Gill noted that the alumni association also gives scholarships, but none with the single amounts gifted by the Oneonta Foundation.
The scholarships given this spring are also a warning — the times they are a changing.
Students and their parents are starting to think more about how they are going to finance a college education.
“I haven’t heard much yet from the students. It’s just like a murmuring,” Gill said. “But for this group of graduating seniors, there are going to be many changes in the next four years. If they aren’t aware of it yet, they are going to be.”
One change that is already taking place is that more students are taking advantage of transferring from one school to another. It was once a less traveled path, but now, Gill said, the option of transferring has “brought down the anxiety for students. It’s been very helpful.”
“There is more of an uncertainty on the part of parents,” said Gill, who noted that some students get accepted to out-of-state schools, but don’t receive a scholarship.
Gill noted that students now are taking advantage of community colleges. With so many different ones in the area to chose from, finding previously hard-to-get classes, as well as options for on-line courses, has made the decision to stay near home for the first year or two more popular in the next step in their education. Then, there are changes in university admission policies, making it near impossible to earn acceptance into what might have once been a regular UC or state school. Increased costs — from housing to food to supplies — have made community colleges a more practical option.
Even with student loans, young people struggle with the many unexpected costs the first year of college. Local organizations have sought to offset those challenges. Gill noted that every year there might be another fund or scholarship to join those which have been available previously, from groups like the Kiwanis, Woman’s Club, Vecinos de South Pasadena, the Chinese-American Club and the Bill Ericson Foundation — to name just a few.
Gill noted that the Restoration Concert series — a fundraising arm of the Friends of the Library — is giving a music scholarship for the first time this year. “You never know who is going to give,” she added.
“It’s become increasingly unusual to find a city to be so inclined to give back to its students. High school awards are really important when there is so much uncertainty. Plus there is the validation of people cheering you on.”
The Oneonta Club and The Oneonta Club Foundation has been giving out scholarships since 1955. The Oneonta Club Foundation — a separate 501c3 public charity — was launched in 1975.
Over the last 50 years, the foundation has presented scholarships to more than 130 graduating seniors. President Dean Serwin said that over that time, the foundation has given about $700,000 in awards. They’ve also committed to granting teachers money for classrooms, projects or special courses. The teacher-of-the-year grants are for $1,000, and Serwin estimated that the foundation has distributed close to $50,000.
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