Ventura College Foundation

Their combined expertise in education and business will benefit the students as well as the foundation.

Financial aid applications are now open for the 2026-27 cycle, and assistance is available through the state and federal call centers.

The foundation awarded a record $940,854 through 435 scholarships last year.

Parker's efforts are designed to build a solid college donor base for both unrestricted and restricted needs.

The need for the Basic Needs Center among students is growing.

The foundation presented 435 scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year, marking the highest distribution amount in the organization's more than 40-year history.

The new 2,000-square-foot teaching space was built to support veterinary hands-on skills training.

Eleanor Tilquist, a Ventura College Foundation board member for over 10 years, established annual scholarships for Ventura College students.

In the last 10 years, Oxnard-based Gibbs International Truck Centers has donated $1.3 million in financial and equipment to support the two-year program.

The foundation also provided funding to the Ventura College Basic Needs Program including its two food pantries, and the Jordana Ybarra-Telias Emergency Grant Program.