The Community Foundation awards $618,000+

San Luis Obispo, CA – At The Community Foundation, scholarships are a powerful way to provide essential financial support to students, helping them pursue their educational goals while also honoring the legacies of those who have made a lasting impact on the community. This year, over $618,000 was awarded to more than 100 students across 50 unique scholarships—offering multiple awards to help students pursue a wide variety of educational paths. From aviation to trades, to returning to education and STEM, these transformative scholarships help students focus on their dreams and remove barriers to entry.

This year’s highlights include six newly established scholarships designed to support students on unique educational paths. Notably, 70% of recipients demonstrated significant financial need—further emphasizing the vital role these awards play in helping students overcome financial barriers and pursue their goals.

One of the most meaningful examples of the power of scholarships is the Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship, which honors the legacy of Jennifer Armstrong Thoma—a devoted wife, mother, arts lover, and accomplished professional. Jennifer’s deep passion for dance, shared with her daughter Jessica, inspired this scholarship to help local dancers pursue their dreams through summer intensive training programs.

This year, three talented dancers received $3,000 awards to attend prestigious ballet intensives, continuing Jennifer’s legacy of supporting young talent. As a tribute to Jennifer’s commitment to the arts, the scholarship remains a testament to the power of community and the arts in shaping lives and futures.

Among this year’s recipients is Aubree Branin, a 15-year-old dancer from Dellos Performing Arts Center in Grover Beach, who was awarded $3,000 to attend her first ballet summer intensive away from home. Aubree has been dancing for 11 years, and her dedication to her craft is evident in her humble yet inspiring approach to dance. “My passion for dance is deeply rooted in the relationships I have been blessed with,” she says. “I have constantly been surrounded by mentors who have found an abundance of success through dance and witnessed the incredible opportunities that arise from it.” Aubree is excited about the chance to expand her skills and return to share her experiences with her peers.

 

Bill Thoma, the late husband of Jennifer and Founder of the Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship, shares, “Selecting our recipients each year goes beyond talent, potential, or need. It’s about those qualities we feel Jennifer would have chosen. We may not always be able to explain it, but we know when we see it, and we’re confident Jennifer would support this year’s recipients in expanding their classical ballet education.”

Through scholarships like the Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship, The Community Foundation continues to honor the legacies of individuals like Jennifer, who believed in the transformative power of education and the arts to shape future generations.

For more information on The Community Foundation’s scholarship programs, to view a full list of award recipients, or to learn how to establish a scholarship fund, visit www.cfsloco.org/scholarships or contact Emily Jagger, Scholarship Manager, at emily@cfsloco.org.

About The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County
The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created by and for the people of San Luis Obispo County to support local charitable giving. Since 1998, The Community Foundation has awarded more than $74 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofit partners and local students, and now manages over $87 million in charitable assets. Through its grantmaking, scholarships, and partnerships, the Foundation supports a vision for an inclusive, thriving, and resilient community—providing support to all areas of our county in perpetuity. Learn more at www.cfsloco.org.