To honor the community spirit and support of those affected by the Nov. 14 shooting at Saugus High School, the SCV Scholarship Foundation (SCVSF) has established “Saugus Strong” awards at all 11 high schools served by the Foundation.

The Foundation will provide seed funding for each scholarship, in the amount of $1,000 for 2020, but the community is invited to make donations that could increase the award amount and endow the scholarship for future classes. Donations may be made by sending a check to the Foundation at P.O. Box 220236, Santa Clarita, 91322. All donations are tax-deductible. Please note on the check “Saugus Strong” so it may be credited to that award.

The Foundation has been serving the community since 1951 and in 2019, provided more than $270,000 to 156 graduating seniors in the William S. Hart High School District who are continuing their education at two- or four-year colleges, universities or trade schools. Dedicated to recognizing exemplary work and encourage higher education for graduating seniors, the SCVSF is an independent nonprofit corporation run by volunteers that works with, but is separate from, the Hart District. Because of its nonprofit status, donors can claim tax deductions for their support and all monies raised are distributed to graduating seniors at all 11 schools of the Hart District – Hart, Canyon, Saugus, Valencia, Golden Valley, West Ranch, Bowman, Learning Post/Hart@Home, Academy of the Canyons and Sequoia.

Applications for 2020 scholarships are now available on the Foundation website, www.scvsf.org. These applications and accompanying essays must be completed by students and turned in to their Hart District counselors no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 30. Because of the volume of the applications received, this deadline is firm and there are no exceptions.

Applications are read and evaluated by Foundation volunteers, who are counselors, retired educators and community members. Most of the awards do not involve personal interviews, but those students being considered for Newhall Family Foundation awards will be interviewed in March. Awards are announced at each school’s awards night, when members of the Foundation attend and announce the lucky students’ names.

If anyone is interested in creating a scholarship in honor of or in memory of a loved one, please email president@scvsf.org for help with the process. For more information, including the requirements for applying for a scholarship award, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.scvsf.org.