UKIAH, Calif. – First year nursing student Jessica Hernandez is a full-time student at Mendocino College enrolled in the college’s nursing program.

She is the fortunate recipient of a new scholarship from the American Legion’s Forty and Eight Society.

Forty and Eight representative Dennis Alexander contacted the nursing program because the club members wanted to provide a scholarship to a student enrolled in the nursing program who resides in Lake County, the home of the society.

According to staff in the nursing program, Hernandez immediately came to mind. She is a thoughtful, conscientious and hard-working student who lives in Lake County.

She is a graduate of Clear Lake High School and has been employed by Sutter Lakeside Hospital since 2011 as a certified nursing assistant.

Hernandez has always wanted to be a nurse and indicated that her role model is her mother. “My mother has always worked hard and supported and encouraged me to succeed,” she said.

She is following her mother’s example by encouraging her 5-year-old daughter Aleah, who also wants to be a nurse when she grows up.

Hernandez was excited to receive the scholarship and is on track to graduate from the nursing program in the spring of 2020, at which time she hopes to begin her nursing career at Sutter Lakeside.

The Forty and Eight Society is a veterans’ organization in Lake County that is actively involved in programs supporting child welfare, youth sports, training for nurses, Carville Star and other veterans affairs voluntary services.

Members of the Forty and Eight are also members of the American Legion. The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.

For more information about the Mendocino College Foundation or to donate towards any of their programs, contact Katie Fairbairn, executive director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-468-3164.