Monterey Peninsula College Foundation Launched Honor Grant Program, Investing More than $300,000 in the Region’s Next Firefighters, Nurses, and EMTs
New pay-it-forward scholarship model will fund students today and turn them into donors tomorrow
Monterey, California - Monterey Peninsula College and the Monterey Peninsula College Foundation announced the launch of the Honor Grant Program today. The new scholarship initiative awarded more than $300,000 to students studying and training to become firefighters, nurses, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
The program was unveiled at the press conference held in the Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing building on the Monterey Peninsula College campus. College and Foundation leaders were joined by students who will be among the program’s first recipients.
“Every strong community depends on the people who choose to serve others,” said Dr. Marshall Fulbright, President of Monterey Peninsula College. “The Honor Grant Program removes the financial barrier that too often stands between a talented student and a career saving lives in our community.”
The grant program was made possible through a generous matching gift from a philanthropic supporter of the College, and is designed to specifically ease the cost burden for students entering three of the region’s most in-demand professions.
What sets the Honor Grant Program apart from a traditional scholarship is its built-in sustainability model. Recipients who go on to work as firefighters, nurses, or EMTs will be asked to make a voluntary commitment to give back to the fund once they are established in their careers. Recipients will be able to help finance scholarships for the next generation of students.
“We are extremely thankful to Ernest Posey for this gift that will inspire a continuous paying-it-forward movement,” said Theresa Wright, President of the Monterey Peninsula College Foundation. “Every student who receives an Honor Grant becomes part of a growing circle of professionals who are personally invested in making sure the next class has the same chance they did.”
Student recipients, Elisa Mendoza and Dominic Zarookian, spoke at the event about what the funding will mean for their education and their future careers in public safety and healthcare. Their stories offered a firsthand look at how the grant is expected to change the trajectory of their futures. Students who might otherwise have had to delay or abandon their training due to cost are now able to pursue their dreams.
College officials said the timing of the program reflects a broader need across the region. Fire departments, hospitals, and emergency medical agencies throughout Monterey County continue to face persistent workforce shortages, making local training pipelines like Monterey Peninsula College’s Fire Academy and nursing school increasingly critical to the region’s public safety and health care capacity.
Media Contact: Perla Rodríguez (669) 360-0883 and Catherine Huynh (510) 701-3944
About the Monterey Peninsula College Foundation:
The Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for students to attend MPC and helps to ensure their college experience is the best it can be. We do this by providing students with financial support and investing resources into the college’s programs and facilities. The MPC Foundation has raised over $45 million since its inception in 1994 and currently provides more than $800,000 in financial assistance each year to deserving students. The MPC Foundation’s volunteer Board of Directors works hard to remove barriers for students and make their educational dreams possible. To learn more about the MPC Foundation, visit www.mpcfoundation.org.
Monterey Peninsula College - established in 1947:
Monterey Peninsula College, part of California’s public community college system, is an open-access institution committed to fostering student learning and success by providing excellence in instructional programs, facilities, and services to support the goals of students pursuing transfer, career, basic skills, and lifelong learning opportunities. In addition to the scenic Monterey campus located on 90+ acres, MPC’s district includes campuses in Seaside and Marina. As a comprehensive community college, MPC responds to the educational and cultural needs of its diverse community and is distinguished for its outstanding academic programs and strong commitment to student success. To learn more about Monterey Peninsula College, please visit www.mpc.edu and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.