This past Thursday, College of the Canyons held its annual Scholarship Awards Celebration. The entry lobby of the Dr. Dianne Van Hook University Center was packed with scholarship recipients and the generous donors who make such awards possible.

Some 242 students received over $265,000 in direct-to-student merit scholarships. For many, this help makes the difference in whether college is even affordable or possible.

Tuition’s just the start — books, transportation, housing, and lost work time add up fast. Most students work while studying, and these scholarships help bridge critical gaps.

Donors and students sat side by side, sharing stories.

One young man at our table is heading to UC Berkeley. Another is bound for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. COC helped launch these high achievers into the next chapter of promising lives.

Two days earlier, COC hosted its annual joint meeting between the board of trustees and the COC Foundation board. Leading off was graduating student Austion Taylor-Uku, who addressed both boards with conviction and heart.

Austion grew up in foster homes — no easy path. He saw education as his lifeline. He was working multiple jobs while earning a merit scholarship from the Santa Clarita Assistance League. With grit and grace, he earned his........

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