The sun broke through the fog just in time to welcome the 87 student scholarship recipients for the Santa Barbara High School Alumni Association’s annual award ceremony on May 3 at the high school.
Decked out in olive and gold, the school’s quad and cafeteria were dressed to match, with flowers, flags and tents blanketing the scene in school spirit. Volunteer members of the Alumni Association — dutifully sporting the same color scheme — staffed booths for reception, interpretation services, and Dons gear for student recipients and their families.
This year the Alumni Association gave out more than $270,000 — its most ever — in funds to graduating seniors and past students pursuing undergraduate and advanced degrees.
Run by volunteers, the Alumni Association awards scholarships to graduating seniors and past graduates pursuing education across a wide range of pathways, including four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, trade schools, and professional certification programs.
The Alumni Association’s scholarship co-chair, Helen Murdoch ’83, kicked off the event, congratulating students and explaining that many scholarship recipients would be the first in their family to attend college.
“We’re so incredibly proud of this year’s student awardees, many of whom have overcome great adversity to be able to attend college and be here today,” she said.
Before the awards could begin, however, Santa Barbara High School Alumni Association President Talli Richards Versola ’82, conducted the annual general meeting to swear in the Alumni Association’s new board members.
“We have a tradition of conducting official business at every student award ceremony. It especially gives the graduating seniors a chance to see the generations of Dons who have come before them and get a sense for the really active community we have.”
Once the preliminaries were complete, the fun began.
Laura Davis Wilson ’67, presented the Once A Don, Always a Don scholarships to the cadre of SBHS alumni who received funding to continue their education as undergraduate or graduate students.
“We honor this smaller cohort first so the graduating seniors can see what other students, who’ve sat in their same seats, have done and studied in college,” she said.
Murdoch then told the audience about the 51-year scholarship tradition of the Alumni Association, which was established in 1975 on the 100-year anniversary of Santa Barbara High School’s own 1875 founding.
“We’re one of the oldest high school Alumni Associations, public or private, in the state. It’s an incredibly special community you’re stepping into.”
Murdoch went on to explain that in its first year, the Alumni Association gave out two $150 scholarships and from these humble beginnings has grown to be able to award nearly 90 students and provide $270,000 in support this year.
Individual scholarship amounts range from $5,000 for alumni attending graduate school, $3,000 for graduating seniors and continuing undergraduates and $1,000 for those attending Santa Barbara City College whose costs are already largely covered by the SBCC Promise program for local high school graduates.
“Everyone on the board knows what it’s like to go here,” she said. “We spend a lot of time ensuring that we serve as many students as we can with these funds.”
Murdoch then described how scholarship applicants are evaluated on academic standing, a personal statement, financial need, and an in-person interview — a process designed to recognize not just achievement, but future potential and perseverance.
Each graduating senior then addressed the crowd, giving the name of their specific alumni scholarship, a summary of their activities and contributions while at SBHS and the college or program they would be attending in the fall.
The students also received an accompanying certificate with the specific individuals for which their award was named.
Every scholarship is funded by SBHS alumni in memory of classmates, family members, favorite teachers, and graduating classes. A significant fund was also contributed to the Alumni Association by the late former SBHS principal, Claud Hardesty.
In the last five years alone, the Alumni Association has awarded over $1.3 million in scholarships to SBHS students and alumni — a testament to the loyalty and commitment of a public school community that has long believed in investing in its own.
After the ceremony, a reception was catered by Tino’s Italian Grocery, which is owned by fellow SBHS alumni.
Laura Wilson was quick to note this fact saying, “We’re very lucky to have fellow alums supporting us wherever we go. It’s why we’re able to give more scholarships to our students every year. Dons are generous!”
Students — both graduating seniors and SBHS alumni — interested in applying for future scholarships can find application information on the Alumni Association’s website, with applications for Fall 2027 opening November 1, 2026.
