At an evening presentation on May 17, 88 seniors at San Benito High School were awarded a total of $134,400 in scholarships for higher education  

While conditions can vary by each award, typically the awards can be used by the students for trade schools, community colleges and four-year institutions.

Students typically do not know in advance what scholarship awards they have won, but receive invitations to the awards night held in the San Benito High School auditorium.  Staff sends the student and invitation when the high school is notified that they are a winner by a giving organization.

Josh Nehme was awarded three scholarships, including the Haybaler Athletic Scholar Athlete Award, Spring Grove School PTO, and the North County Teachers Association Spring Grove Teachers’ Award.  “The awards are very beneficial to the students.  Anyone can get an award if they put their mind to it; the awards are open to the whole school," said Nehme.

Nydia Martinez, Career Center specialist at San Benito High School, noted that the awards go to students from all backgrounds and different academic achievements, not necessarily just those in Advanced Placement classes or with the highest grades or SAT or ACT scores. Martinez gave the example of an award winner being a student from Mexico who came to San Benito High School as an English learner, and still is an English learner.

Some of the award names are very telling, such as the “Ralph P. Binkley ‘Against All Odds’ award, the “Georgia Wapple Frazer – Eagle Scout Scholarship," the “Top Hatters Motorcycle Club Scholarship,” and the “Hope for a Cure Memorial Education Fund Scholarship.”

The energy in the auditorium was exciting.

With tuition and housing so expensive in college, the scholarship awards give students assistance in defraying the costs of higher education, especially for things like books and meal plans.