The Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF) is honored to administer programs that directly support students as they head into the larger world to fulfill their potential and make the world a better place.
The Jacqueline H. Breitling College Visit Scholarship Fund is an Endowed Donor Designated Fund that was established by a generous philanthropist at SBF in 1997 for a very specific
purpose: to support college bound women in their junior and senior years of high school to visit out of state universities.
Provided to high-achieving, low-income students across Santa Barbara County, scholarships defray costs such as flights, food, accommodation, and other travel expenses.
Each year a handful of young women — many who will be first generation college attendees — visit schools they are considering to learn more and come to clearer decisions about their future.
Natalie, a scholarship recipient from Carpinteria High School, visited the East Coast with a plan in mind and her trajectory changed completely upon making her visit.
“I had the opportunity to visit Johns Hopkins, Brown and Boston University,” she explained. “My first stop was my first choice at the time: Johns Hopkins.”
“However, when I stepped onto the Brown University campus, I felt the vibrant community of students… on my tour even though it was 40 degrees and raining! I loved how Providence had both the small town and big city feel,” Natalie elaborated.
“The perspective of the school coming from a student herself on the tour was very insightful and helped me make my decision to apply for early decision at Brown.”
“If it weren’t for this visit, I wouldn’t have known that I actually prefer a tighter knit community like Brown.” Supporting even a single student as they navigate the path to their future to make informed decisions and achieve their goals offers immense rewards, as well as benefit to our community and the world.
As travel expenses and inflation make college visits harder than ever to undertake, the Breitling Scholarship can make all the difference for a student achieving the most that is possible for her and her future.
The Breitling Scholarship program is managed by Deanna Vallejo, SBF Community Grants Officer. To learn more, email Deanna at DVallejo@SBFoundation.org
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