First Graduating Class of Steve's Scholars will be Honored at Dinner
What: Benefactors Francine and Murray Farber will award first Steve's Scholars scholarships
When: Tuesday, May 1, 2018
6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Tehipite Middle School
630 N. Augusta Ave. (93701)
Six years ago, Francine and Murray Farber established the Steve's Scholars program as a lasting memorial to their son, who died unexpectedly in 2001 at age 42. Their goal was to encourage students at Tehipite Middle School to strive for good grades and attendance, social responsibility and college. On May 1, the Farbers will have the pleasure of awarding the first Steve's Scholars scholarships to 26 high school graduating seniors. The students will receive $1,000 scholarships for each of two years after successfully meeting all of the requirements for Steve's Scholars since they were in the seventh grade.
"We have waited six years to congratulate our first scholarship winners," Francine Farber said. "We are thrilled to realize that this group is the first of a long line of scholarship winners to come."
For the Steve's Scholars banquet, the recipients will return to their middle school auditorium to celebrate with family, their favorite teacher and guests, including members of the Fresno Unified Board of Education, local dignitaries, and school staff members who have worked hard to keep the students on track for six years. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Joseph Castro, president of Fresno State University. Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson will also speak.
To achieve a Steve's Scholar scholarship, students had to maintain at least a B average and at least 95% attendance. They were also required to take California's college preparatory courses, known as A through G classes, and complete community service annually. Steve's Scholars is funded with $1 million from the estate of the Farbers' son, a gift to the Farbers from his widow, who wishes to remain anonymous. The Farbers were both born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and have been married for 63 years. They moved to Fresno to be near their daughter and her family.
