P.R.I.D.E.

Patterson Recognizing Individuals
Determined To Excel

A scholarship organization for Patterson High School graduates
 

Statement by president, Dave Santos:

    Over 80% of the scholarships at the high school are now handled by PRIDE.  We have given out over $60,000 in scholarships in our first two years. 
    We have been handling quite a few memorials in the past two years.  Most  of the memorial scholarships have been in the $250 to $500 range with some up to $1,000.  The family establishing the scholarship can request the criteria for the recipient.  For instance it could be a student who would be entering a field similar to the deceased's occupation.  We have our awards ceremony in May and a family member could present the scholarship or we can handle the presentation.  (11-30-04)

PRIDE's mailing address is:  P.O. Box 1543, Patterson  CA  95363
 

The purpose of this non-profit, tax exempt, community-based corporation shall be to create, maintain and award scholarships to graduates of high schools of the Patterson Unified School District to help them continue their  education in colleges, universities, or technical schools.

1.            PRIDE shall have one class of members and any interested individual, organization or business donating a minimum of $20.00 shall be eligible for annual membership and shall, upon acceptance by the Board, become a member.

2.            PRIDE's activities and affairs shall be managed, and all corporate powers shall be exercised by, or under the direction of, the PRIDE Board of Directors consisting of twenty members elected by the Membership.

3.            The term of a director shall be five years.  However, the first twenty directors shall classify themselves by lot so that four shall have a term of five years; four shall have a term of four years; four shall have a term of three years; four shall have a term of two years; and four shall have a term of one year.

4.            There shall be an educational advisory panel consisting of the junior high school principals, the high school principals, the superintendent of the District, and a representative of the Patterson City Council.

5.            Scholarships will be based on applications (provided by PRIDE) and each applicant for a scholarship shall be considered separately and shall receive an amount as the PRIDE Board of Directors determines.

6.            PRIDE shall solicit individuals, institutions, organizations and business firms for scholarship funds.  These funds can be in the form of memorials, scholarship donations and/or endowments (to PRIDE or the school district).

7.            All members and donors will be named in programs and publicity unless anonymity is requested.

8.            Scholarships may be established in the name of an institution, an organization, an individual, or a firm.

9.            Any donor of any scholarship may restrict the awarding of a scholarship to a certain profession, trade or occupation, provided that in the event there are no qualified applicants for said scholarship for period of two consecutive years, it may be awarded to any qualified applicant as determined by the Board.

10.        Beginning with the Class of 2003, graduates of Patterson High School and Del Puerto High School, to be eligible for a PRIDE scholarship, must graduate with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 for a community college, 2.5 GPA for a Vocational/Trade School, or 3.0 GPA for a four-year school; must enroll and matriculate in an accredited post-secondary program; and be a full-time student (12 units or more).

11.        PRIDE shall honor the Top 10 students of grades 8-11 with annuities.  The annuities shall be paid in addition to other scholarships earned by the students upon graduation from high school.

12.        Scholarships will be distributed to students based on listed criteria (as established by the PRIDE Board of Directors) with no exact percentage of how many community college, trade school and four-year school scholarships will be awarded.

13.        The number and dollar amount of scholarships will be subject to the number of applications received, the amount of scholarship funds available, and stipulations that might be placed by major donors.

(This independent Patterson community organization has no official affiliation with either the Patterson Township Historical Society or the Patterson Apricot Fiesta who jointly own this website.  This page is provided as a community service.)