Announcements

The 43 scholarship awardees receiving $2,500 scholarships were celebrated at the CalRTA Div #58 luncheon meeting on June 1. The luncheon attendees enjoyed a very special treat as the graduating seniors introduced themselves and told their inspiring stories and aspirations on the large screen.  A huge thank you goes to Ron Toledo who expertly compiled the individual videos that the students submitted.  If you would like to view the video, click here.

Two scholarship recipients from Kennedy High School, Hector Munoz and Emani Mason, were guest speakers, sharing more about themselves and their journeys.  Hector will be attending UC Berkeley in the fall and Emani will be attending UC Davis.  Congratulations to all!  The awards program is here.

Also at this final meeting of the year, the winning ticket for the 2023 Scholarship Quilt, “Pathways,” was pulled.   Retired El Cerrito High School teacher, Jim Perero, was the lucky winner.  Click here to see the quilt and information about it.

Something exciting and new is in the works for the 2022 scholarship awardees.  There will be five $1,000 scholarships granted for the second year of college/trade school to encourage and to support students in furthering their education. Applications are due Friday, August 11.  Click here for information and the application form.

The West Contra Costa Retired Educators Scholarship Fund Board is pleased to announce that 43 graduating seniors will be receiving $2,500 scholarships.

The 2023 scholarship recipients will be showcased at the Div. #58 luncheon meeting on June 1. The students will be submitting short videos along with a photo so that the membership can have an opportunity to “meet” these outstanding graduates through a photo montage presentation.

They deserve a standing ovation for their persistence, hard work, and excellence during the last three extraordinary years. Congratulations to each and every one! Click here to see the list of awardees.

Congratulations to all who entered and won prizes in our 2023 scholarship fundraiser. A total of 98 prizes were raffled at the West Contra Costa Retired Educators luncheon on April 6. Rit Huybrechts was the lucky winner of the grand prize trip to Hawaii. Rit retired from El Cerrito High School where she taught from 1997 to 2017. She enjoyed a 40-year career teaching all levels of high school math. Rit and her husband are very much looking forward to exploring and adventuring in Hawaii.

Thank you to everyone who bought tickets, donated prizes, and supported our largest event of the year. Click here to see the list of prize winners.

The scholarship application for seniors in the Class of 2023 is now available. Applications are due to your School Site Scholarship Coordinator and your school’s Scholarship Board Liaison by FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2023. Click here for all of the details on how to apply for the 2023 awards.

Note to all seniors – over the years, 764 graduates from the schools that you attend have been awarded scholarships. Do not miss out on this opportunity.

We are ticketless again this year. For each $1.00 donated, one randomly numbered entry will be submitted in your name to the raffle.

The “Pathways” quilt will be raffled at the June 1st CalRTA Division #58 meeting.

You may purchase chances to win “Pathways,” a vibrant, one-of-a-kind art quilt, in the following ways:
– Send a check ($1.00 for each chance) payable to WCCRESF by May 26th, and mail to WCCRESF, PO Box 703, El Cerrito, 94530. On the lower left corner of the envelope, write QUILT. Inside the envelope, along with your check, include your name, phone number and/or email address.
OR
– Use the Donate button in the “Fund Raising and Raffles” tab in the column on the left of the website homepage. Please make a note in the special instructions section that the donation is for the quilt raffle.

This year’s twelfth scholarship quilt was designed and made by Janet Smith, with assistance from Jane Toro and Barbara Gaffield. The Scholarship Board extends a huge thank you to Janet, Jane, and Barbara for their art and dedication to the scholarship board’s fundraising efforts. Each year we look forward to the announcement of a new, beautiful raffle quilt.

UPDATE: The scholarship quilt raffle was held at the CalRTA Division #58 Scholarship Awards Celebration on June 1st. Congratulations to the lucky winner – retired El Cerrito High School teacher, Jim Perero.

Celebrating the 2022 scholarship awardees was a major part of the CalRTA Div #58 luncheon meeting on June 2.  Due to ongoing Covid concerns, instead of attending the meeting in person, scholarship recipients submitted a short video to introduce themselves – a bouquet of thanks to Erin Halonen for her editing skills. The video compilation of this year’s outstanding group of 41 honorees was shown and enjoyed by all in attendance.  If you would like to view the video, click here. Abigail Hernandez, the West Contra Costa Adult School recipient, was the keynote speaker and told a captivating and heartfelt story of her journey.  The awards program is here.

Also at this final meeting of the year, the winner of the 2022 Scholarship Quilt, “Working Together,” was chosen.   Retired teacher Maggie Boscoe, was the lucky winner.  Click here to see the quilt.

The West Contra Costa Retired Educators Scholarship Board is pleased to announce that 41 graduating seniors will be receiving $2,000 scholarships. We send a hearty congratulations and a big round of applause to each and every one, and recognize their persistence, hard work, and excellence during these last two extraordinary years. To see the list of awardees, click here.

Because of the ongoing Covid 19 situation, this year’s award ceremony will once again be held virtually. Scholarship recipients are submitting videos and photos for a montage so that the membership can have an opportunity to “meet” these outstanding 2022 graduates at the Div. #58 meeting on June 2.

Congratulations to all! This year’s Hawaii trip winner is Ora Anderson. Ora worked for the district for 37 years and retired as Director of Special Education.  She is excited to have won and sends kudos to the West Contra Costa Retired Educators for supporting students in helping them achieve their educational goals.

The Scholarship Board would like to thank everyone who bought tickets, donated prizes and supported our biggest fundraising event of the year. Please click here to see the list of raffle prizes and donors and click here to see the list of all of the lucky prizewinners.  

We are COVID ticketless again this year.

If you would like to purchase quilt raffle tickets, you may send a check ($1.00 for each ticket) payable to WCCRESF by May 31st to Janet Smith, 1728 Walnut Street, El Cerrito, 94530. Include your name, phone number or email on the check. You may also use the Donate button in the “Fundraising and Raffles” tab in the column on the left – be sure to make a note in the special instructions section that the donation is for the quilt raffle. For each $1.00 donated, one randomly numbered entry will be submitted in your name to the raffle. Thank you to Janet Smith and her team for creating another beautiful quilt for student scholarships.

On June 2 at the last CalRTA meeting of the 2022 school year, the winner of the “Working Together” quilt was won by retired teacher, Maggie Boscoe. Congratulations, Maggie!