Letter from the Executive Director- Our Most Remarkable Year Yet

What a year to be celebrating. This sunny spring, we gathered together for our scholarship awards ceremony — and the energy in the Sportsplex was unlike anything we have experienced before.

With over $1 million in scholarships distributed to nearly 400 students, this was the largest scholarship year in our history. And it all unfolded during our 100th anniversary year, making everymoment feel that much more extraordinary.

We also had the profound joy of watching our students walk across the stage at graduation — a milestone made even more meaningful as we marked a century of serving this community. None of it would be possible without you. Your generosity is not simply a gift; it is the reason students stay enrolled, stay focused, and stay on the path toward their futures. Donor support removes the barriers that so often force students to choose between their education and their basic needs.

The funding we direct to our Basic Needs Centers ensures that students are fed, housed, and able to get to and from campus. Through tuition assistance, we work to make certain that the cost of attendance never becomes the reason a student walks away. Our VC Promise Program takes this commitment even further, providing free tuition for the first two years so that students can begin their academic journey without the weight of financial worry on their shoulders.

These two programs sit at the heart of our $7 million Invest in Success Campaign, and I am thrilled to share that we are so close to reaching our goal. Every contribution — at every level — has moved us forward, and I am deeply grateful to each and every person who has invested in this vision.

This has been a great year in every sense of the word. To do this work during our 100th year — surrounded by students whose lives are changing, and donors whose hearts are open — has been nothing short of magical. Thank you for being part of this story, and for helping us write the next chapter.

With gratitude,

Anne Paul King

Executive Director & Board Member

Ventura College Foundation