Celebrating VCCF’s 2026 Scholarship Students!
A Message from Our Scholarship Team
Happy summer from the Programme de bourses d'études de la VCCF!
As another incredible season closes, we are proud to share the remarkable growth and impact of the VCCF Scholarship Program in 2026.
This year…
- We received 1,345 scholarship applications, up from 1,291 last year.
- We awarded 610 scholarships totaling an extraordinary $2,009,312, making this our largest award year ever!
- We welcomed SIX new scholarship funds, adding an additional $114,000 in support for local students pursuing higher education.
None of this would be possible without the dedication of our volunteers. This year, more than 170 readers gave their time to review and score scholarship applications, and to represent VCCF at high school senior award ceremonies throughout Ventura County. Their commitment, compassion and belief in our students are at the heart of this program’s success, and we are deeply grateful for their support.
One highlight of our spring was visiting a local high school alongside one of our volunteers. Sierra, one of our volunteers and I had the opportunity to meet with the school’s college and career guidance team and learn more about their work mentoring students through scholarship season. Their dedication to student success is truly inspiring and we are thrilled to report that every city in Ventura County was represented in our VCCF Scholarship awards for 2026.
We would like to give a heartfelt thank you to our donors, whose passion for our community helps to lift up hundreds of our local students to reach their educational dreams. We are also continuing our work towards an exciting goal: establishing a new community endowed scholarship fund, allowing donors to contribute at any level in support of Ventura County students. This shared investment in education reflects the very best of our community, people coming together to reduce financial barriers for students and create greater access to higher education.
Thank you for being part of this important work and for continuing to invest in the future of Ventura County students. We are so grateful for your partnership and support.
Wishing you a wonderful summer!
Warmly,
Kirsti & Sierra
Kirsti Vomund, Scholarship Director
Sierra Kettenberg, Grant & Scholarship Program Specialist
Our Student Gratitude Gallery
Students across Ventura County have accepted awards from the Programme de bourses d'études de la VCCF for our 2026 season, lifting up 440 students to achieve their academic dreams. These students would like to say thank you to our donors and volunteer readers who made this possible, and share a bit about their lives and hopes for the future…
“Just a couple days ago, I asked myself how I was actually going to pay for college, and at the time I honestly had no clue. Then a couple days later, I opened my email and was surprised with a couple of emails congratulating me for winning some scholarships. I was in shock and extremely excited. Opportunities like this are what really makes or breaks going to college for a lot of people, including myself.”
– Miguel
“While the scholarship provides valuable support for my legal education, what means even more to me is the confidence and encouragement it represents. Knowing that others believe in my potential and are willing to invest in my future is both humbling and inspiring. Throughout my education and career, I have been committed to serving my community and advocating for youth and families. This scholarship affirms that commitment and strengthens my resolve to continue pursuing meaningful work that creates positive change.”
– Valerie
