In the Business of Scholarships

A record $310,400 was raised for the Scholarship Foundation when 500 guests attended the South Coast Business & Technology Awards celebrating leadership and ingenuity at the Hilton.

Initiated in 1995 by local business and industry executives, the awards laud companies and industries that demonstrate extreme commitment to the economic vitality in Santa Barbara County.

“Since 2001 the awards have provided more than $3 million in scholarships for more than 1,100 students throughout Santa Barbara County,” says Mary Dwyer, interim President and CEO. “This year alone we awarded an unprecedented 163 scholarships totaling $383,000.”

Diego Curiel, a former resident at the Rescue Mission given problems with alcohol, recounted the success he had achieved at City College and Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo with his scholarship grant as he heads into a career as a research scientist.

Awards at the bash, co-chaired by Janet Garufis, chairman of Montecito Bank & Trust, and Kirsten McLaughlin of Cox Communications, went to Guillaume de Zwirek as Entrepreneur of the Year, Yardi as Company of the Year, Elizabeth Cholawsky as Executive of the Year, and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara for Excellence in Service.

The Pioneer Award went to John Greathouse.

Among the hoard of supporters were former mayor Helene Schneider, Geoff Green, Michael Holland, Joe Campanelli, Richard Block, George Leis, Matt Rowe, and Richard Yao.