Pedrozzi Scholars Natalie Palomo, Sarah Bettencourt and Diamond Wesley, all Las Positas College (LPC) students, recently packed hundreds of lunches for local students through Open Heart Kitchen’s Weekend Box Lunch Program. The three young women, all Pedrozzi Scholarship recipients, began their college careers at LPC and plan to transfer to complete bachelor degrees.
Pedrozzi Scholars Volunteer at OHK | L to R: Natalie, Sarah, and Diamond
Thirty-six Pedrozzi Scholars currently attend LPC. To help create a peer-to-peer network for these students, the Pedrozzi Foundation appointed Sarah Bettencourt as a liaison between the Foundation board and staff and the LPC Pedrozzi Scholars. In this roll, Sarah is connecting with her fellow scholars to encourage them to: take advantage of LPC support programs, participate in LPC campus activities, and connect with their fellow Pedrozzi Scholars.
Studies of community college students have shown that students are more likely to earn an associate’s degree and/or transfer to earn a bachelor’s when they are engaged with campus activities and support programs. By creating the Pedrozzi LPC Community Coordinator and Board Liaison position, the Foundation is investing in Livermore students beyond awarding scholarships. Natalie, Sarah and Diamond each attended a Pedrozzi Foundation Board of Directors meeting and all shared that their scholarships helps them financially, but just as importantly, and they are grateful for encouragement they receive as Pedrozzi Scholars.
