Dear donors and supporters,
The year seems to be flying by and, as we move, we are experiencing lots of changes here at Hartnell College – good changes!
I am so happy to announce that our new superintendent/president, Mr. Michael Gutierrez, began his journey here at Hartnell College this month. He is excited to meet you all and we will have plenty of opportunities in the coming months for gatherings.
We are looking forward to working with President Gutierrez in setting priorities for student success. Our visions are aligned and I know we will make a great team.
Welcome to the Central Coast, President Gutierrez!
Jackie Cruz
VP Advancement and Development
Executive Director for Hartnell College Foundation
THE PEGGY AND JACK BASKIN
FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
Diana gets her wings as she heads down to UCSB
The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation Scholarship is awarded to low-income womxn, with a history of outstanding academic success and an intent to give back to the community, attending Cabrillo, Hartnell, or Monterey Peninsula College. The Foundation prioritizes the applications of womxn of color, first-generation college students, immigrant students (including undocumented students), students who are the first generation in their families to be born in the U.S., and womxn re-entering the workforce. This year, that honor goes to Diana Garcia Chavez, 21, and it could not come at a better time.
“I got the call with the good news while working out at the gym,” she said. “I was just elated; I was so worried about financial aid and not having enough money to complete my bachelor’s degree and thus I felt relieved with the news.”
Diana graduated from Alisal High School in Salinas. She went off to UC Santa Barbara, but her time there was cut short. She did not feel ready to be at a UC in addition to a financial package that did not cover all of her expenses.
In 2019, she returned to Salinas and enrolled at Hartnell College as a Mechanical Engineer major. She soon found out that her passion is in mathematics and chose to switch her major. Soon after, the pandemic rocked her world and Diana made the decision to take one year off.
“I joined MESA (Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement) at Hartnell and it was a breath of fresh air,” she said. “I enjoyed having a network of students and professionals guide me through college – it was a support system I really embraced.”
Garcia has two brothers; Carlos Alberto is a Computer Science major at CSU Monterey Bay and Andres is starting Hartnell as a freshman this fall. She said that parents Lionsio and Maria Elena (pictured) instilled the importance of education in all of them.
She graduated in May 2022 with an AA in Mathematics. She is excited to go back to UC Santa Barbara to major in Statistics and Financial Mathematics.
“Teaching is one of the careers I am interested in,” she said. “I want to come back to Alisal High School and teach math there.”
She speaks highly of the faculty and staff at Hartnell and is thankful for having the Panther Learning Lab available for her on a daily basis.
“I am really grateful to Hartnell College,” she said. “Here, they offer us lots of opportunities because they want students to succeed.”
Diana said that in high school, she was encouraged to attend a 4-year university right after high school, and she did.
“I wish high schools would promote community colleges a bit more because, for many, this may be the best way to go, especially when it comes to the financial aspect,” she said.
She is looking forward to starting her junior year at UC Santa Barbara this fall and said that she is now mentally prepared for the workload.
“I am thankful for The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation Scholarship and look forward to making everyone proud and to returning to Salinas with my bachelor’s degree,” she said.
“I joined MESA (Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement) at Hartnell and it was a breath of fresh air,” she said. “I enjoyed having a network of students and professionals guide me through college – it was a support system I really embraced.”
Garcia has two brothers; Carlos Alberto is a Computer Science major at CSU Monterey Bay and Andres is starting Hartnell as a freshman this fall. She said that parents Lionsio and Maria Elena (pictured) instilled the importance of education in all of them.
She graduated in May 2022 with an AA in Mathematics. She is excited to go back to UC Santa Barbara to major in Statistics and Financial Mathematics.
“Teaching is one of the careers I am interested in,” she said. “I want to come back to Alisal High School and teach math there.”
She speaks highly of the faculty and staff at Hartnell and is thankful for having the Panther Learning Lab available for her on a daily basis.
“I am really grateful to Hartnell College,” she said. “Here, they offer us lots of opportunities because they want students to succeed.”
Diana said that in high school, she was encouraged to attend a 4-year university right after high school, and she did.
“I wish high schools would promote community colleges a bit more because, for many, this may be the best way to go, especially when it comes to the financial aspect,” she said.
She is looking forward to starting her junior year at UC Santa Barbara this fall and said that she is now mentally prepared for the workload.
“I am thankful for The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation Scholarship and look forward to making everyone proud and to returning to Salinas with my bachelor’s degree,” she said.
Students apply through their respective community colleges, and the program provides one student from each participating college with up to $20,000 in scholarships over two years, to attend a UC of their choice. For more information, visit https://
GIVE YOUR IRA WINGS
If you feel weighed down with the thought of taking your IRA required minimum distribution, then give it wings. Rather than take the RMD, take your IRA to new heights by making the distribution directly to our organization instead.
There is nothing like the feeling when an airplane’s wheels leave the ground. It means you are on the way to your next vacation, business meeting, or family reunion. “Takeoff” means something great is about to begin.
As you come in for a landing this year and prepare to take off for the next, it is worth a few moments to make sure you touch down safely and prepare for your next flight with good estate planning.
Avoid the turbulence of paying taxes. Call or email us so we can give you directions for a smooth flight. Contact our VP of Advancement and Development/Executive Director for the Foundation, Jackie Cruz at jcruz@hartnell.edu or call 831-444-2446.
If you feel weighed down with the thought of taking your IRA required minimum distribution, then give it wings. Rather than take the RMD, take your IRA to new heights by making the distribution directly to our organization instead.
There is nothing like the feeling when an airplane’s wheels leave the ground. It means you are on the way to your next vacation, business meeting, or family reunion. “Takeoff” means something great is about to begin.
As you come in for a landing this year and prepare to take off for the next, it is worth a few moments to make sure you touch down safely and prepare for your next flight with good estate planning.
Avoid the turbulence of paying taxes. Call or email us so we can give you directions for a smooth flight. Contact our VP of Advancement and Development/Executive Director for the Foundation, Jackie Cruz at jcruz@hartnell.edu or call 831-444-2446.