American Heritage Scholarship

American Heritage Scholarship Program Focuses on the Constitutionality of the Right to Bear Arms

Essay Contest Winners to be Honored on Tuesday, November 27

 This fall, 317 high school juniors and seniors from throughout the county participated in the American Heritage Scholarship Series essay contest, a competition sponsored by The Modesto Bee, in partnership with the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) and Modesto City Schools.  Nineteen students will be honored for their essays at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, November 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at SCOE (1100 H Street, Modesto).  The public is invited to attend.

 A total of $10,000 in scholarship awards will be presented:

One……………$2,000 scholarship

Two……………$1,500 scholarships

Two……………$1,000 scholarships

Four……………$500 scholarships

Ten……………..$100 scholarships

The American Heritage Scholarship is possible thanks to the support of organizations and individuals who contribute to the success of the program.  The 2018 scholarship sponsors include: Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo Law Firm, Bank of Stockton, Ramon & Barbara Bawanan , Jeff and Sandi Dirske, Mike & Tammy Dunbar, James and Carole Enochs, E & J Gallo Winery, Mark & Jeanette Goss, Curtis and Nancy Grant, Ronald W. Hillberg, Attorney-at-Law, Kathy Hobby, Kiwanis Club of Greater Turlock , Modesto Irrigation District, Modesto Teachers Association, Mocse Credit Union, Modesto Lions 500 Club, North Modesto Kiwanis Club, Martin Petersen, Fred & Susan Rich, Turlock Irrigation District, Waterford Lions Club, and Lynn and Sue Zwahlen.

Teaching students and adults to think critically about issues affecting the United States and increasing their awareness of what it means to be an American are the goals of the American Heritage Scholarship Program.  Eric Grant, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice, made a presentation on September 18 covering an overview of the issue, How should the “right to bear arms” be interpreted and enforced in 2018? Grant presented impartial research and philosophies that touched both legal, historic, and contemporary perspectives. An audience of community members and students attended the presentation to learn more about this topic. “This program continues to be an outstanding model of community collaboration,” said Tom Changnon, Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools. “I am proud to be a part of highlighting the importance of the civic mission of public education.”

A group of local educators, editors, community leaders, and Superior Court Judges judged the essays.  Scholarship winners are invited to the November 27 event and the amount per scholarship or award will be announced at that time.

Those slated to be honored for scholarships, in alphabetical order, include: