UKIAH, Calif. – Former Mendocino County Chief Administrative Officer Albert Beltrami is helping Mendocino College students interested in careers in local government by donating $25,000 to establish a perpetual scholarship program, the Mendocino College Foundation has announced.

The Albert and Patricia Beltrami Scholarship/Internship Program was created Nov. 1 with a gift to the Foundation, Executive Director Katie Wojcieszak reported.

The contribution will facilitate an internship program for students. Selected students will intern in local government offices while enrolling and earning college credits in Mendocino College’s Work Experience. The students will be eligible for a scholarship of up to $1,000 per year.

“With the tough times we’re facing, it’s imperative that we encourage the upcoming generation of students to be interested, concerned and involved in local government,” said Al Beltrami, explaining his reason for establishing the scholarship.

The internship component will encourage participation in government at the local level, giving students hands-on experience in and knowledge of city or county government operations rather than the more commonly-known aspects of state and federal government, he said.

“The scholarship is a good way to remember and honor Pat and my background and history,” Beltrami stated.

According to the agreement between Mr. Beltrami and the Foundation, “It is the donor’s express wish to create a program which excites and encourages individuals to pursue a career in local government.” The stated purpose of the scholarship is “to provide an opportunity for students to gain valuable real life experience and exposure to the internal workings” of government.

Mendocino College Superintendent/President Kathryn G. Lehner, who is secretary/treasurer for the foundation, said the college and foundation are pleased to be offering the program as a result of Mr. Beltrami’s gift.

“It is exciting to partner with Al on this internship project,” she said. “Select Mendocino College students will be given the opportunity to ‘try out’ a career in local government.”

She added, “Rarely does a young person grow up saying, ‘I want to be a county administrator or a city manager,’ but by giving students the opportunity to work in local government offices during their college years, we may be able to attract high caliber College graduates to enter the local government field.”

The Beltramis have been active members of the Ukiah community since moving to the area in 1965. Taking the job as chief administrative officer for the County of Mendocino, Al Beltrami became only the second administrator in the county’s history.

Beltrami’s 25-year stint with the county earned him the distinction of being the state’s longest serving county administrator upon his retirement in 1990.

However, his employment days were not over.

Beltrami worked for Stanislaus County (1991-1993) as chief executive officer, for the office of Governor Pete Wilson as deputy director of intergovernmental affairs (1993-1996), Employers Council of Mendocino County as executive director (1996-2003), as an owner/consultant in his own firm (2003-2006) and, returning to Mendocino County’s administrative office, as chief executive officer (2006-2007).

He has been active in many community organizations including the Elks and Lions clubs and the Mendocino County Historical Society. He currently serves on the City of Ukiah’s Civil Service Board.

Pat Beltrami spent many years as a teacher for Happy Day Preschool, 18 years as a real estate agent, and was active in many organizations including Little League, Blue Birds and the Ukiah Garden Club.

She was an Angel Fund volunteer with the Community Foundation of Mendocino County and volunteered for the American Cancer Society and the Sun House.

In addition to their career and community activities, they raised a son, Robert, and daughter, Katy, both of whom still reside in Mendocino County.

Albert and Patricia were married 52 years. Pat Beltrami died in October 2009, before the scholarship/internship program was implemented, “but Al knows she would have been supportive and very pleased” with the creation of the plan to aid Mendocino College students, Wojcieszak indicated.

With the establishment of the Beltrami Scholarship/Internship Program through the College Foundation, a committee of College representatives including the director of Cooperative Work Experience Education, the Foundation’s executive director, a member of the Political Science faculty, and Albert Beltrami, if he chooses to participate on the selection committee, will select the student recipient each year.

Although the first intern has not yet been chosen, the city of Ukiah is looking forward to working with Mendocino College students selected for the program.

“The city of Ukiah is pleased to be able to partner with the college and the county through the program made possible by Al Beltrami,” said City Manager Jane Chambers. “Our intention is to help support the development of future administrative leaders and to provide a general understanding of local government.”

To be eligible for the program, the student must be a Mendocino County resident, maintain a 3.0 grade point average, and successfully completed student participation in college governance, American government and politics, or California government and politics classes.

The student must also intend to major in business, political science or a related field and intend to pursue a career in local government, according to the criteria outlined in the program agreement.

The Mendocino College Foundation relies on contributions to help support its mission of providing aid to students and funding college educational programs.

For information on making donations to the Foundation, call Wojcieszak at the foundation office, 707-467-1018.

Additional information about the organization may be found on the foundation’s Web site, http://foundation.mendocino.edu.