Scholarships Offered to Student Volunteers

A Camarillo nonprofit group is encouraging college-bound seniors who exemplify the spirit of volunteerism to apply for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,000.

The Shig Yabu, Claire Smithback and Ele Dulaney scholarships are named for citizens who made strong commitments to public service.

Rather than a brainy all-American athlete, organization members are looking for students who take the initiative to give blood, volunteer to tutor children, help out at Habitat for Humanity or serve at homeless shelters.

“It’s not so much the quantity, but the quality of the service and the length of service,” said board member Annette Okamura. “Sometimes we have kids [who apply] who have memberships in 20 clubs, and they don’t do much.”

Scholarships offered by Citizens for Youth In Ventura County are available to students from four county campuses: Rio Mesa, Adolpho Camarillo, Ventura and Buena high schools.

Though organizers consider academics and financial need, the main criterion for the scholarships--up to four will be offered this year--is community service.

One of the difficulties, organizers say, is that the kids who do a lot of volunteering are sometimes too modest to apply.

The group has given nearly $60,000 in scholarships since 1986.

The Shig Yabu scholarship is named after the former director of Camarillo’s Boys Club; the Claire Smithback scholarship after a deceased Camarillo High School teacher; and the Ele Dulaney scholarship after a Ventura County public health nurse.

Applications must be postmarked no later than May 12.

For more information, contact Citizens for Youth in Ventura County at 389-1620.