Trending...
- The 2025 ESPY Awards After Party- Presented by Poppi & High Noon
- General Auction Company Announces August 8th Auction- Now Accepting Consignments
- $53 Million Company Valuation Investment with Majority Acquisition Option, Plus New Stock CUSIP Supporting Brand Transition of Fan Engagement Company
CAMARILLO, Calif. - Californer -- Gerald Richardson III has come a long way from being the "invisible" high school student in a hostile, unwelcoming environment that prevented him access to learning and pushed him into the school-to-prison pipeline. Today, he's a prominent role model: a 4.0 GPA graduate of Moorpark and Oxnard colleges headed to Stanford University as a 2021 Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholar. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship provides up to $40,000 a year for up to three years for Richardson to pursue his bachelor's degree.
Richardson, who graduated with five associate degrees, was one of over 1,300 students from 370 community colleges nationwide to apply for the scholarship. A total of 72 students were selected based on academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence and leadership.
As part of the scholarship, Richardson will receive comprehensive educational and career advising, as well as information about opportunities for internships, international study and graduate school funding. This will be important for Richardson, who wants to pursue a doctorate in public policy and a Juris Doctor. Ultimately, he wants to write legislation and work in public service.
More on The Californer
"My career goals include living a life of advocacy for human rights. I plan to create a pro-bono law firm for communities made vulnerable by inadequate support and public policy," explained Richardson.
Mentors at Oxnard and Moorpark colleges empowered him, encouraging him to pursue his "passion for serving others." Being at the colleges also helped him overcome the experiences of relentless racial bullying and the retaliation he faced in the school-to-prison pipeline. The incidents of being criminalized at school instead of being educated led Richardson to doubt whether higher education was for him, he said.
"Gerald represents what community colleges do best—helping students find their career pathway and inspiring them to spread their wings to take on leadership roles that make a difference in students' lives," said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. "Gerald worked hard on causes related to diversity, equity and inclusion within our District."
Richardson has held several key leadership positions at the local and state level, including legislative affairs director of Region VI for the Student Senate, California Community Colleges (CCC). This spring, the CCC Board of Governors presented him with its inaugural Student Leadership Award. He garnered the award for lobbying California legislators on issues involving equity, basic needs and COVID-19 relief.
More on The Californer
At MC, he was president of the BSU, public relations officer for the Honors Club and vice president of the African American Male Education Network & Development chapter. At OC, he served as senate chair for the Associated Student Government. In the community, he served as a director at the Brilliant Minds Youth Foundation and was the founder and president of Youthfully Evolved Society.
Visit https://www.vcccd.edu/.
Richardson, who graduated with five associate degrees, was one of over 1,300 students from 370 community colleges nationwide to apply for the scholarship. A total of 72 students were selected based on academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence and leadership.
As part of the scholarship, Richardson will receive comprehensive educational and career advising, as well as information about opportunities for internships, international study and graduate school funding. This will be important for Richardson, who wants to pursue a doctorate in public policy and a Juris Doctor. Ultimately, he wants to write legislation and work in public service.
More on The Californer
- Laube Titanium to Attend MADE Bike Show in Portland, Oregon
- A Century of Compassion: Butte Humane Society Hosts 114th Anniversary Gilded Garden Gala
- United Set to Hire More Special Olympics Athletes As Customer Service Ambassadors
- Exelon Leader Tamla Olivier Named 2025 Technologist of the Year by Waves of Change STEM Conference
- KIDZ BOP RELEASES BRAND NEW ALBUM 'KIDZ BOP 51' FEATURING HITS "APT" & "PINK PONY CLUB"
"My career goals include living a life of advocacy for human rights. I plan to create a pro-bono law firm for communities made vulnerable by inadequate support and public policy," explained Richardson.
Mentors at Oxnard and Moorpark colleges empowered him, encouraging him to pursue his "passion for serving others." Being at the colleges also helped him overcome the experiences of relentless racial bullying and the retaliation he faced in the school-to-prison pipeline. The incidents of being criminalized at school instead of being educated led Richardson to doubt whether higher education was for him, he said.
"Gerald represents what community colleges do best—helping students find their career pathway and inspiring them to spread their wings to take on leadership roles that make a difference in students' lives," said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. "Gerald worked hard on causes related to diversity, equity and inclusion within our District."
Richardson has held several key leadership positions at the local and state level, including legislative affairs director of Region VI for the Student Senate, California Community Colleges (CCC). This spring, the CCC Board of Governors presented him with its inaugural Student Leadership Award. He garnered the award for lobbying California legislators on issues involving equity, basic needs and COVID-19 relief.
More on The Californer
- Be Part of the World's Largest Art Biennale | Moons, Castles, Trees | Copenhagen Chronotopes
- California sends more search and rescue crews to Texas
- YourEggs Is Leading the Way in Providing Access to the Best Asian Egg Donors to Families Worldwide
- California: Governor Newsom and Acting Governor Kounalakis honor fallen CDCR Parole Agent
- California sues to stop Trump's politically motivated attack on high-speed rail
At MC, he was president of the BSU, public relations officer for the Honors Club and vice president of the African American Male Education Network & Development chapter. At OC, he served as senate chair for the Associated Student Government. In the community, he served as a director at the Brilliant Minds Youth Foundation and was the founder and president of Youthfully Evolved Society.
Visit https://www.vcccd.edu/.
Source: Ventura County Community College District
Filed Under: Education
0 Comments
Latest on The Californer
- WonderDays Launches the UK's First AI Experience Gift Finder – Gifting Just Got So Much Easier!
- CelluHeal™ Launches Full Line of Advanced Wound Dressings for Online Purchase in the USA, Canada, and Beyond
- California: Governor Newsom responds to Trump's latest gift to China: Defunding America's only high-speed rail
- California: Governor Newsom announces appointments 7.16.25
- California: Governor Newsom calls on Trump to end Los Angeles militarization, shares community resources
- City of Long Beach to Host Compost and Recycling Ambassador Program
- AMAZON DRIVERS IN CITY OF INDUSTRY JOIN THE TEAMSTERS
- Silva Construction Details Common Home Renovation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Governor Newsom invites LA Fire survivors to continue shaping rebuilding efforts through Engaged California
- DOGUE Magazine and CoverDogs Announce Series A to Redefine Modern Pet Culture
- Voices for Humanity Treks High into the Himalayas to Deliver the Way to Happiness with Meena Sharma
- Nonprofit innovator named Mensa Executive Director
- Following Trump cut to LGBTQ youth suicide hotline, California steps up to fill the gap
- Yasmine Roulleau named Managing Director in Vancouver, Canada
- Chasing Elizabeth Taylor — The Dazzling True Story Behind the Queen of Diamonds Now Available in Limited-Edition Hardcover
- Swim Up Hill Animation Premieres Pilot Episode of "The Adventure of Swim Up Hill"
- LOS ANGELES TEAMSTERS AT METRO TRANSIT RATIFY FIRST CONTRACT
- Calmwater Capital Funds $22.8 Million Loan to Refinance Retail Complex in Park City
- From Barrio to Transgender Pioneer: Chapter 14 Personal Injustices Faced by the Protagonist
- Blacksmith InfoSec and Liongard Launch Strategic Integration to Simplify MSP Compliance Audits