Cargill Gives $22,000 in Scholarships to High School Students

By Jill Singleton, Cargill Inc.

Cargill Inc. has awarded 13 Newark Memorial High School 2011 graduates a total of $22,000 in college scholarships—more than double the awards granted in 2010. 

Eleven students took home $20,000 in total, helping them to attend the colleges of their choosing. Two Ohlone Community College grants of $1,000 each were also given.

Winners were:

• Diana Ibarra ($4,000), who will study nursing at St. Mary’s College
• Vinit Nayak and Aaron Yang ($3,000 each)
• Daniela Rodriguez and Kayla Wood ($2,000 each)
• Lena Chaitesipasuet, Stephanie Dizon, Ahalya Nalamothu, Delight Nwangu, Loraine Wong and Elizabeth Venegas ($1,000 each)
• Ahalya Nalamothu also took home a $1,000 Ohlone College scholarship, along with Diem Huynh.

“These are such great kids and there is so much need,” said Aileen Fox, human resources manager for Cargill.  “We stepped it up this year and only wish we could do more.”

Since initiating its scholarship program with a top grant of $1,000 in 1999, Cargill has awarded $58,500 to Newark high school graduates in honor of Claire Lopez, the former chief engineer for the salt company.

Despite only an eighth grade education, Claire was a lifelong learner who rose to oversee operations of 40,000 acres and construction of three salt plants. He also served on the Fremont School Board and dedicated much of his time to mentoring young people. In addition to the Claire Lopez awards, Cargill directed two $1,000 grants to students entering Ohlone Community College.

Cargill employs 200 union and management workers at its Newark solar salt and refinery, where the company produces 500,000 tons of salt each year.