LEADERSHIP AWARD Kurt Gollnick

The Hartnell College Foundation is happy to announce that Party In the Library is back ‘in’ the library! Join us on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. for the best party in town.

This year, our theme is Pathways, and it could not be more fitting to also honor one of our community champions, Kurt Gollnick, who will receive the Leadership Award at the event.

“He is a brilliant businessman with a kind and caring heart for the community,” said Hartnell College Foundation Executive Director, Jackie Cruz. “Kurt’s leadership has made a huge difference at Hartnell, and we are forever grateful.”

For many years, Kurt has been an integral part of Hartnell College. As a member of the Hartnell College Foundation Board, he served as Board Chair, Chair of the Investment Committee, Chair of the President’s Task Force Funding Plan, Co-Chair of the Party in the Library Committee, Chair of the Matsui Leadership Gift Committee, and as a member of the Ag Steering Committee. He also co-chaired the Measure T Campaign, along with Susan Gill and Alfred Diaz-Infante. The Foundation is honored to call him a loyal friend, generous supporter, and cherished member of this community.

Kurt is the owner of Rodnick.farm, producing wine grapes that express the distinct minerality of this unique terroir. He has been a Central Coast wine grape grower for 40 years, and recently “semi-retired” as the COO of Scheid Family Wines. He continues to be an integral part of the community and lends his expertise to local non-profit organizations, including his current passion project, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex.

“Working with Kurt is magic,” said Cruz. “His energy is contagious, and he puts all his talents to work for the organizations he cares about.”

ABOUT PARTY IN THE LIBRARY
Join 400+ community leaders and support Hartnell College students with an epic Party IN the Library. Enjoy a spectacular strolling dinner, lively auction, fantastic wines, and specialty drinks. It is an event that raises funds for our students.

Hartnell College students – they are tomorrow’s leaders. More than half are the first in their family to attend college and 85% of Hartnell College students come from low-income families and daily face food and housing insecurity, transportation challenges, and the need to pay medical bills. They need your generous support to reach their full potential!

To sponsor, become a president’s club member, or buy tickets, go to
https://hartnellfoundation.org/party/.

THE LARRY PEDROZA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP A Legacy to Support Student Dreams

“Larry always valued education – he thought it was the best way to get ahead and develop as a person,” said Tina Sohn of her late husband, Larry Pedroza. “He was always interested in learning.”

Pedroza graduated from Hartnell College with an AA Degree in Sociology in 1977. He went on to Sacramento State University and later to the University of Arizona. He acquired his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and started his doctorate in Sociology.

He passed away in early 2022. “He was a wonderful person, husband, and dad,” Tina said. “He was a great friend – always there – I miss him every day.”

Because of his passion for education, Tina established the Larry Pedroza Memorial Scholarship. It will be awarded annually to a current student at Hartnell majoring in Social and Behavioral Sciences and/or Sociology. 

Pedroza grew up in Salinas and had two grown children from his first marriage. His family connection to Hartnell College includes his brother, Michael and a granddaughter, both of whom graduated from Hartnell. He felt that his experience at Hartnell jump-started his educational journey.

Tina and Larry met through a mutual friend at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she is from. He started work there as Associate Director of the Learning Center. She held various positions, including Director of the Learning Center.  They loved to read, learn, and watch/discuss the daily news. They were married for 20 years.

“I started this endowment in his memory because education was very high in his priorities,” Tina said. “I want to give opportunities to others to have an education and make it a little easier for them.”

Tina is not new to endowments. She lost her mom five years ago and started an endowment in her name to support students in the nursing field. “My mom went back to school in her early 50s to get her nursing degree,” she said. “I admire that so much.”

She hopes that with this scholarship, students will get a head start in their education and learn to appreciate the power of learning just like Larry did.

“Doors will be open thanks to an education,” she said. “My hope is for scholarship recipients to continue on and pass on the opportunities to others.”