One of the things that first comes to mind when students hear the word scholarship is free money. Although scholarships do provide some sort of Financial Aid, there are stories behind the honorees.

The Diane Greene and the Jane Hope Scholarships are two of many scholarships that Palo Alto provides its students.

The Diane Greene scholarship was established in 2004 by the English Department to honor their fellow faculty member and friend who passed away in November of 2001.

Greene taught English as well as Inter-Disciplinary Studies at Palo Alto from 1992 until 2000. She had an M.A. in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. from Radcliffe College. She also served on the Faculty Senate and was a published author.

“She is someone who I would call a Renaissance woman,” said Ellen Shull, a longtime friend and colleague. “She was involved in all types of academic studies. She didn’t know a little bit about some things; she knew a lot about everything.”

The Spring 2004 semester is the second year the Diane Greene Scholarship has been awarded. To be eligible for the Diane Greene scholarship, you must have a 3.0 GPA or higher; major in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences; and have a demonstrated record of community service. The application form may be picked up in the fall in the English Department.

“The criteria were designed to reflect Greene’s commitment to fostering intellectual achievement and community involvement,” said Luis Mercado, a member of Palo Alto’s Public Relations Department.

The recipient of the Diane Greene Scholarship for Spring 2005 was Abraham R. Cabrera, a Pre-Law major. Cabrera started school at Palo Alto in the spring 2003 semester after leaving his job at the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.

Cabrera volunteers at the San Antonio Police Department and for a juvenile probation center.

“I want to give back to the community,” he said.

Cabrera plans to graduate from Palo Alto in May and transfer to the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he hopes to get his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.

The Jane Hope Scholarship, started in her honor by husband and Palo Alto faculty member David Hope, awarded its first scholarship in 1997.

Hope was a woman who was determined to become an educator and treat her students like unique individuals with unique talents and skills. She obtained a master’s degree and a Reading Specialist certification. In her spare time, she volunteered at workshops where she assisted teachers and parents of elementary school and middle school children.

The scholarship was first awarded to one student but has since increased to three per year.

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of a 3.0, must be an Education major, demonstrate community service, and be in good standing with the college system to be eligible for the scholarship.

The Fall 2005 scholarship recipients were Maricela Mendez, Malori Martinez and Lidia Ochoa.

Mendez, a Bilingual-Education major, will graduate in May from Palo Alto and plans to transfer to Texas A&M University to get her bachelor’s degree. She wants to teach early childhood to first grade. Mendez, a foster parent of 11 years, said she wants to write a couple of psychological books about understanding the troubled child.

“I don’t have a limit on my goals exactly. I want to help Hispanic children. I want to be a stepping stone for them,” she said.

Malori Martinez, a full-time student at Palo Alto, plans to major in Education. Besides making the Dean’s List in the spring and the President’s List in the fall, she participated in community service with the Boerne Orphanage, the Heidi Search Center and the Red Ribbon week for Lytle Middle School.

Lidia Ochoa is in her sophomore year studying Bilingual Education and plans to become a teacher for kindergarten through fourth grade. Her community service includes a mentorship program that focuses on student’s success in the classroom, such as comprehension and fluent reading skills.

“[The Scholarship] is a huge opportunity,” Ochoa said. “People should not take [it] for granted.” After her studies at Palo Alto, Ochoa plans to transfer to Texas A&M.

The Diane Greene and the Jane Hope Scholarships are available for the spring semester. Announcements to pick up application forms will be made in October 2005.

Generous donations from fellow faculty members, family and friends have funded these scholarships. If you would like to help keep their legacies alive, contact Dr. Mary-Ellen Jacobs, chair of the English Department, 921-5046, for the Diane Greene Scholarship, or Elizabeth Tanner, chair of the Math Department, 921-5158, for the Jane Hope Scholarship. Donations are tax-deductible.