SRHSF Scholarships (Multiple Named Funds)

SRHSF Scholarships

Purpose: The Santa Rosa High School Foundation administers multiple memorial and named scholarships established by families and friends to support graduating seniors pursuing post-secondary education.

Geographic Scope: Santa Rosa High School (Santa Rosa, CA)

Selection Process: Each year through collaborative effort, recipients are chosen and honored at the Senior Awards' Program at the end of the school year.

The James Fleck Scholarship

• Amount: Approximately 22 scholarships awarded annually (varies based on investment income)
• Eligibility: Graduating seniors nominated by eleven departments at SRHS
• Requirements: College-bound students
• Background: Established from a bequest exceeding $2 million from James Fleck (SRHS Class of 1946); income generated from investment distributed to qualifying students

The Robert Clell McKinney Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: College-bound, graduating senior
• Focus: Fine Arts (drawing, painting, and/or sculpture)
• Background: Honors Robert Clell McKinney, North Coast modernist painter and sculptor

The Bruce Mecchi Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: Graduating senior pursuing Public Service careers
• Focus Areas: Fire Technology (first consideration), Administration of Justice, Emergency Medical Care Academies
• Background: Honors Bruce Mecchi (SRHS Class of 1968, age 18), who died in a forest fire
• Requirement: Must attend Santa Rosa Junior College

The Jerry Poncia Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: Graduating senior
• Focus: Alternates yearly between instrumental music and agriculture
• Background: Honors Jerry Poncia, beloved SRHS counselor known for accordion playing and interest in Sonoma County agriculture

The Berta Wiggins Golf Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: Graduating senior girl
• Requirements: Member of SRHS Golf Team; passion for golf
• Background: Honors Berta Wiggins (SRHS Class of 1955), accomplished golfer

The Lisa Nilsen Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: Agriculture student
• Requirements: Active in program, academically talented, program completer
• Background: Honors Lisa K. Nilsen, Ag Booster and Advisory member instrumental in vineyard and farm development

The Jack Kellar "Lucky Jade" Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: Graduating senior
• Requirements: Continuing education in music at 2- or 4-year college/university or music conservatory; no GPA requirement
• Background: Honors Jack J. Kellar (SRHS Class of 1939), who enjoyed music classes and played in dance band

The Lorenzo Solis Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: Deserving student
• Requirements: Demonstrated passion for Santa Rosa High School
• Background: Honors Lorenzo Solis, respected head custodian; perpetual scholarship created by retired SRHS staff

The Emmett O'Neill Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: Graduating senior in Social Science Department
• Requirements: High GPA, demonstrated campus and community leadership, demonstrated broad range of interests in world affairs, intent to pursue social science major in college
• Background: Honors Emmett O'Neil (retired 1999), renowned social studies instructor and developer of Asian Studies curriculum

Henry and Doris Matteri Agriculture Scholarship

• Amount: Two scholarships per year
• Eligibility: Graduating seniors
• Requirements: Enrollment in agriculture program at SRJC; commitment to agriculture-related career; financial need considered; academic standing not required
• Background: Honors Henry Matteri (SRHS Class of 1951) and Doris Ferrari Matteri (SRHS Class of 1950), dairy farmers for 4 decades

Gary Rasche Memorial Shop Scholarship

• Amount: Six (6) scholarships annually (two each from Metal, Wood, and Auto shops)
• Eligibility: Graduating senior shop student
• Requirements: One of the following: (1) Post-secondary education for trade/technical career, (2) Technical or vocational school, (3) Public or private program/training for trade/technical career
• Background: Honors Gary Rasche (SRHS Class of 1961); bequest of $1,000,000 for wood, auto, and metal shops

Peter Slusser Debate and Agriculture Scholarships

• Amount: Two scholarships (one per field)
• Eligibility: Graduating seniors
• Focus: One from Debate Program, one from Agriculture Program
• Requirements: Planning to attend 2- or 4-year college/university; financial need can be consideration but not requirement
• Background: Honors Peter Slusser's interests in debate and agriculture

Cristian Valencia Figueroa Memorial Scholarship

• Eligibility: Graduating senior
• Focus: Boys' soccer or basketball team
• Requirements: Minimum 2.0 GPA, demonstrated love for the game, planning enrollment in post-secondary program (trade school, JC, University)
• Background: Honors Cristian Valencia Figueroa (SRHS Class of 2016, age 22), established by family and friends

Patrick Gallagher Artquest Scholarship

• Amount: One or two scholarships (majority decision by active ArtQuest teachers)
• Eligibility: Graduating student from ArtQuest Program
• Requirements: Pursuing post-secondary education in visual arts; financial need highly considered; quality of work, talent, and commitment to visual arts career evaluated
• Background: Honors Patrick Gallagher, SRHS teacher for 35 years and founding member of ArtQuest

Betty Jean Gong Business Scholarship

• Amount: One scholarship
• Eligibility: Graduating senior
• Requirements: Enrollment in 2- or 4-year accredited college/university; promising pathway to business-related career; financial need major consideration; scholastic standing not necessarily required
• Background: Honors Betty Jean Gong, founder of G&G Supermarkets landmark in Santa Rosa

Paul Huntzinger Scholarship (Class of 1963)

• Amount: Three scholarships per year
• Eligibility: First-generation college student
• Requirements: Full-time enrollment in post-secondary program/institution
• Background: Paul Huntzinger donated $20,302 in summer 2023 with additional funds bringing corpus to over $60,000; designed to help first-generation students access higher education opportunities

Marie Hindringer Kelly Memorial Scholarship (Class of 1957)

• Amount: Four to six scholarships annually (determined by Scholarship Committee)
• Eligibility: Graduating student
• Focus: Arts-oriented student (music, dancing, drama, art)
• Background: Honors Marie Kelly (SRHS Class of 1957), Miss Sonoma County 1960, runner-up to Miss California 1961; established through large donation reflecting importance of SRHS in her life

Chuck Kracker Scholarship

• Amount: One scholarship per year
• Eligibility: Graduating senior
• Focus: Career Technical Education, vocational and skilled labor careers
• Background: Honors Chuck Kracker (SRHS Class of 1975), FFA member, self-made businessman in trucking and agriculture industry

Sandra Husby Spencer Memorial Scholarship

• Amount: Multiple scholarships per year (specific number not stated)
• Eligibility: Graduating senior
• Requirements: Hardworking, dedicated students with educational or vocational goals after high school; passion for SRHS and school spirit
• Background: Sandra worked as paralegal into her 80s and donated $326,000 at passing; funds split between Panther Project Fund and scholarships

Contact Information:

• Email: scholarship@srhsf.org
• For establishment inquiries: Monica Baldenegro or Kristine Erken

- mbgrockssrhs@gmail.com

• Phone: (707) 571-7747
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 11006, Santa Rosa, CA 95406

Application Process

Specific application procedures are not detailed on the website. Recipients are selected through departmental nominations and committee review by the SRHS Foundation Scholarship Committee.

Selection Method:

Students are nominated by their respective departments at SRHS

SRHS Foundation Scholarship Committee reviews nominations

Selection honors Senior Awards' Program at end of school year

For More Information:

Contact scholarship@srhsf.org

Contact Monica Baldenegro or Kristine Erken:

- mbgrockssrhs@gmail.com
- kerken@srcs.k12.ca.us

Phone: (707) 571-7747