UKIAH, Calif. – When Rebecca Martinez walked into the Foundation Office to pick up her Yvonne Sligh Book Award she had no idea that she was about to receive the last one available for the fall semester.

The first-come, first-served program provides students with a $150 scholarship for the rental or purchase of textbooks in the college’s bookstore.

“Recipients of these awards are not eligible for financial aid nor have they received a Mendocino College scholarship,” said Scholarship Coordinator Lana Eberhard.

Martinez was raised on the Mendocino Coast and is a proud graduate of Fort Bragg High School. She is actively involved in college life playing both softball and volleyball at the college.

An aspiring kinesiology major, she plans on becoming an athletic trainer and credits her mentor Naoto Horiguchi, Mendocino College's athletic trainer, with pushing her to do her best and reach her goal.

In addition to taking a full load of courses, Martinez works full time for Black Oak Coffee Roasters and loves living in Ukiah which she describes as providing a wonderful atmosphere for students just like her.  

Programs like this are made possible by donations from the community, college staff and the Nebraska Book Co.

For more information about the Yvonne Sligh Book Award Program, or to donate towards any of the Mendocino College Foundation funded programs, call 707-467-1018 or visit http://foundation.mendocino.edu/site/ .