OXNARD, CA - Another year, another impressive effort by Bobalu to support the next generation. The company has celebrated its third year of the Bobalu Berry Farms Scholarship program, presenting 14 total scholarships to graduating high school seniors.

“With each student deserving a scholarship, we really have to focus on those that are uniquely positioned as ag majors, and those that may not be getting other scholarships to help with financial support,” says RC Jones, Managing Member. “We were very pleased this year to have multiple students pursuing a degree in ag, and to have a student that is a child of one of our long-time employees in Oxnard.”

The impactful program was established in 2022 in honor of the strawberry provider’s 60^th anniversary.

Since then, the program has expanded each year to include more students in Oxnard and Santa Maria, California, as well as its employees’ children.

This year, Bobalu converted the application process to an online format allowing students easier access to complete applications and submit qualifying documentation, a press release explained. The supplier also expanded the incentive for employee children to apply by increasing communication at the farm offices and adapting the online enrollment form to include employee documentation.

This year’s program saw over 40 applications.

“Members of our staff committee really enjoy the opportunity to be part of this process each year and select recipients as a team. Even more, we are truly honored to attend each high school award ceremony and personally present awards to very deserving students on stage,” adds Maria de la Cruz, Bobalu HR Director. “Selecting students on paper, based on qualifications, is one thing but meeting them and their families in person takes this program to a whole other level for us.”

Each of the students awarded a Bobalu scholarship are the first in their family to attend college. Students will be attending schools like Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, UC Davis, Berkeley, and UCLA, as well as some community colleges before transferring to a university.

The merit-based program focuses heavily on grades, but also considers philanthropic activities by students supporting their community, and those seeking agriculturally based majors, the release stated.

Congratulations to the 14 students awarded scholarships, and to Bobalu for upholding a 62-year-strong company legacy!

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