April 28, 2026
San Diego Mesa College to Award Nearly $250,000 in Scholarships at Annual Awards Ceremony
By Office of Communications
San Diego, CA — San Diego Mesa College will honor its 2026 scholarship recipients
during the 33rd Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 recognizing
the academic excellence, resilience, and aspirations of its students.
This year, the college will award nearly $250,000 across 114 scholarship opportunities,
resulting in 281 individual awards to 202 students. Sixty students will receive multiple
scholarships, underscoring both their accomplishments and the Mesa College community’s
continued commitment to student success.
“The Scholarship Awards Ceremony is one of the most meaningful moments we share as
a college community,” said Dr. Ashanti Hands, President of San Diego Mesa College.
“Each scholarship represents more than financial support. It is a message to our students
that we see them, we believe in them, and we are invested in who they are becoming.
The true return on education is not only measured in dollars, but in the confidence
that grows, the doors that open, and the possibilities that begin to feel within reach.
At Mesa College, we are proud to walk alongside our students as they turn their dreams
into something real.”
The annual celebration brings together students, donors, faculty, staff, and community
partners for an evening of recognition and connection. The program will begin with
a social hour, followed by remarks from campus leaders and the recipient of the President’s
Scholarship, and will conclude with the formal scholarship presentation.
Hosted in partnership with the San Diego Mesa College Foundation, the event highlights
the transformative impact of philanthropy in advancing educational access and opportunity
for Mesa students.
Event Details:
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
Location:
San Diego Mesa College Gymnasium
7250 Mesa College Drive
San Diego, CA 92111
Free parking available
Media Opportunities / Visuals
- Students receiving scholarships alongside donors
- Remarks from college leadership and student speaker
- Celebration and community engagement throughout the event
- Interview opportunities with students, donors, and college representatives
Individuals or organizations interested in supporting student scholarships may contact
the Mesa College Office of Resource Development at (619) 388-2285 or visit:
https://www.sdmesa.edu/foundation
For more information, visit the Scholarship Awards Ceremony webpage here:
https://www.sdmesa.edu/scholarship
Photos from last year's Scholarship event can be found here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCdwVN
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About San Diego Mesa College
San Diego Mesa College is a fully accredited, comprehensive college committed to equity
and excellence. We honor our diverse community of students, faculty, professional
staff, and administrators who collaborate to foster scholarship, leadership, access,
and innovation in an inclusive learning environment. By promoting student learning
and achievement that leads to degrees and certificates, transfer, workforce training,
and lifelong learning, we empower our students to reach their educational goals and
shape their future. Among the largest community colleges in California, Mesa serves
approximately 30,000 students per year, 25% of whom are full-time. Mesa offers more
than 200 associate degrees and certificate programs and is one of 45 California community
colleges approved to offer bachelor’s degrees. It is also among just 12 California
Community colleges currently offering two or more baccalaureate programs. Mesa ranks
as one of San Diego’s top transfer institutions, is an Asian American and Native American
Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), a proud Black-Serving Institution,
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), a student-parent, and a Military Friendly Gold
Status School, serving nearly 2,500 active-duty veterans, and their families.
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Tags: Scholarships, Press Release
