UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Foundation is excited to announce that 32 fifth graders in Lake and Mendocino counties were adopted through the Foundation’s Adopt-A-Fifth Grader Program this year.  

Since its inception, 89 fifth graders in Lake and Mendocino counties have been awarded this honor and distinction.

“More schools were adopted this year than ever before and we continue to grow this program by leaps and bounds,” announced Katie Fairbairn, executive director of the foundation.  

In fact, at least one fifth grade class in every district public school in Lake and Mendocino counties was adopted this year.  

According to Fairbairn, “This program is designed to motivate students at a young age to think about graduating from high school and attending college as well as forging bonds between the College and K-12 schools in Lake and Mendocino counties.”

Donors provide a $700 award per student at one of the elementary schools within our district and the Foundation then invests these funds at an average return of 7 percent per year which will grow to over $1,000 by the time the fifth grader graduates from 12th grade.  

The foundation believes so strongly in this program that they guarantee the $1,000 scholarship even if the average rate of return is lower than the projected 7 percent.

The foundation awards a certificate and a check for $25 dollars to each student stating that a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is available when the student obtains a high school diploma and enrolls for at least one full semester as a full-time student at Mendocino College.

If the student earns a high school diploma, but does not enroll at Mendocino College, $500 will be awarded to the student.

This program would not be possible without the generous support of the 2012 donors: Wade and Marylou Koeninger, George and Ruth Bradford Foundation, Claudia Smith-Hill, Willits Rotary, Mendocino College Management/Confidential, Bruce Burton, David and Christy Scollin, Mendo College Part Time Faculty, Ukiah Valley Medical Center, Ken and Brenda Hoek, Kathy Lehner, Kelseyville Rotary, Tom and Angie Herman, Mendocino College Board of Trustees, Mendocino College Classified Senate, Tommy and Ann Thornhill, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Bob and Marlys Blanc, Ed Haynes, Lynne Bruner, Bette and Katie Fairbairn in memory of Bob Fairbairn, Mendocino College Full Time Faculty, North Shore Business Association, Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation and to many anonymous donors.

Please contact the Mendocino College Foundation Office at 707-468-3164 for more information about this program.