The STA Foundation, a non profit corporation, offers secondary education scholarships for Rubidoux High School seniors planning to attend a four-year university. It was founded by Rubidoux High School graduates (’89 and ’90) who quickly learned that being scrappy in life generated success. Whether is was meant as a compliment or not, they always took the term “scrappy” as a badge of honor. They thought that students who demonstrated their ability to overcome and succeed despite life’s challenges or rose to the challenge of gainful employment while in school exhibit the qualities that will make them successful past high school, past college, past living at home and into their independence and adulthood. These are the characteristics we want to see on the community.
The STA Foundation Scholarship began in 2017 and has been awarded to students from Rubidoux’s graduating classes ever since. So far, six scholarships were awarded to students now attending prestigious institutions like the University of California and Cal State University.
We believe in recognizing the intangibles that contribute to success in our community – intangibles that are not measured by grades, awards or trophies but are every bit as critical to success as anything else.
We believe in fostering a community of college-educated, open minded citizens whose accomplishments do not fit the typical qualifications for private college scholarships.
We believe in promoting self-sufficiency and confidence by rewarding hard work in the face of adversity. We seek to acknowledge the potential for success that others overlook.
Few if any scholarships acknowledge the strength of character and hard work it takes to succeed in the face of challenges. To be sure, getting top grades, being a leader in school, doing well in sports are commendable accomplishments for any student. But students who do those things in the face of adversity or while contributing to the community or working jobs while in school should be specially recognized for their achievements.
Those are the scrappy, the tenacious, the ambitious students that are capable of going so far if only they had a little help from their friends. That is where the STA Foundation comes in.