Foundation News

First John Bogner Scholarship Winner Announced

Friday, 20 April 2012 18:10

Central Casting could not have come up with a more perfect recipient of the first Mendocino College Foundation scholarship for Fine Arts honoring the late John Bogner. Monique Marmon, like Bogner, grew up in Ukiah, acted in plays at Ukiah High School and found her voice and sense of belonging in theater/onstage.

“I was teased as a kid for always reading books,” says Marmon. “When I tried out and got a part for Beauty and the Beast, I was so excited I started crying and told my mom how great it was to meet others who are just like me.”

“When John was in high school, he was so shy that he often ate his lunch in the school library alone,” shares long-time friend and partner Gary Nix, who spearheaded the John Bogner Perpetual Scholarship for Fine Arts with an Emphasis in Theater and Music. Nix says that Bogner had a talent for screen printing and visual art. “On his own, John decided to make a poster to advertise one of the high school plays. After putting it up in the main building at Ukiah High School, the choral director Les Johnson sought out John to join the Choral Club. John first performed in My Fair Lady and helped with props, advertising, and of course posters for all the school plays,” says Nix. “That was really the start of John finding good friends and developing his outgoing personality.”

Read more: First John Bogner Scholarship Winner Announced

Gala on the Green Sponsors Needed

Monday, 16 April 2012 14:34

UKIAH – “Gala on the Green,” Mendocino College Foundation’s annual fundraiser to benefit Mendocino College students and programs, is scheduled for Saturday, June 23, at Campovida, 13601 Old River Road, Hopland. Foundation board members working on details of the event are seeking sponsors.

The Gala festivities include dinner, wine, auctions, and music. The event begins at 5:30 p.m., and will be preceded by an optional tour of the Campovida gardens between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the event are used to fund scholarships for students and provide support for College programs as recommended by the administrators. Last year’s Gala on the Green raised more than $60,000 for scholarships and educational programs. Event and support sponsors are needed for the event, according to organizers.

Sponsorships are available at various levels. Sponsors receive tables to the event, name listings in programs and media releases, and mentions during the evening’s announcements, depending on levels of sponsorship. Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in sponsoring the Gala are urged to call the Foundation office, 707-467-1018.

Tickets for the event are $100 per person. Tables, with seating for eight people each, may be reserved for $700. Additional information about tickets and table reservations is available by clicking here. 

Campovida LLC is a “Presenting Sponsor” for the event. Use of Campovida, the setting for the annual event the last four years, is provided by owners Gary Breen and Anna Beuselinck.

“Campovida” translates to “Field of Life,” and company owners Breen and Beuselinck have revitalized the 51 acres that feature a dining pavilion, a farmhouse inn, a field house, a tasting room, 10 acres of organic vineyards, and organic gardens of more than 2,000 varieties of fresh fruit, herbs, vegetables, and ornamental and edible flowers. Guided garden tours will be offered during the hour prior to this year’s Gala festivities.

Additional sponsors for this year’s event are Mendo Lake Credit Union, the Skunk Train, TLCD Architecture, Richard Cooper, SHN Consulting, and Gary Smith. Wells Fargo Advisors has offered to sponsor the appetizers for the event while the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College is sponsoring the Gala’s Dessert Bar. Midstate Construction is the sponsor for the martini bar. Kit Elliott and George Husaruk have once again signed up to sponsor the live music, which is provided by Husaruk and his band.

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Beltrami Intern Selected

Friday, 13 April 2012 12:21

Ukiah – Trevor Mockel was recently selected as the second intern for the year to receive the $1,000 Albert and Patricia Beltrami Scholarship for internships in local government.

Mockel is currently enrolled in 17.0 units and has completed 57 units at Mendocino College maintaining a 3.0 grade point average. He plans to transfer to Sacramento State next year and study administration of justice. He is interested in government and explains a fascination in understanding the inner workings of government; from how decisions are made to the impact of those decisions to the residents of a community.

In the Fall of 2011, Mendocino College student Connie Patterson received the internship after completing a very successful and rewarding internship with the Mendocino County Executive Office. Like Patterson, Mockel will intern for the executive office and has already been assigned a research project. Mockel will spend 10 hours per week in the county office through this June to complete the required 2.0 units of Cooperative Work Experience.

Beltrami generously established this scholarship with a mandatory internship in local government to encourage students to be interested, concerned and to guarantee the next generation of leaders in local government.

For more information about the Beltrami Scholarship or the Mendocino College Foundation programs, please contact the Foundation Office at 707.467.1018 or email Katie Wojcieszak at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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