Senior Wins Chamber’s Barroca Scholarship

The Ventura County Chamber of Commerce awarded its first Jim Barroca Scholarship to Joshua Skinner-Gomez.

The $1,000 award is presented to a graduating senior from one of Ventura’s public or parochial high schools, who intends on pursuing a college education in business, accounting or health care administration.

Skinner-Gomez, who attended Ventura High School, was chosen for his “keen, focused interest in the health care of the elderly.”

During his junior year, Skinner-Gomez studied in Argentina on a Rotary Club exchange program. It was there he became dissatisfied with impoverished retirement homes and inadequate hospitals. According to the chamber, “he is determined to return and build health care facilities modeled on those in the United States.”

The scholarship is named for the chamber’s retired executive director, Jim Barroca, who held the post for 25 years.

Auxiliary Announces New Board Members

St. John’s Regional Medical Center Auxiliary has announced the installation of its new board members.

Jean Mashburn is president; Gail Bloom is president-elect; Maria Castanon, Vangie Tejada and Harriet Friedman are vice presidents; Helen Hummer is secretary; Regina Lundgren is treasurer; Willa DeLay is parliamentarian; Sister Mary Assumpta Murray is auxiliary liaison; and Helen Wheir is hospital liaison.

Awards and Honors is compiled by Rodney Bosch. Please address items to Awards and Honors, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura, CA 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.