CHS FOUNDATION Academy of Communications and Technology

The CHSF Academy of Communications and Technology (ACT) fund supports the development of Chico High’s ACT, a smaller-learning community funded by a grant. ACT students gain skills and experience with technology through projects involving the filming and editing of video and the recording of music while integrating academic concepts in English and history. This fund is used for service-learning projects and for the travel costs of the ACT presentation team.

CHS FOUNDATION Adam Gausemel Scholarship Fund and Danny Imhoff Scholarship Fund

In 1999, two Chico High students, Danny Imhoff and Adam Gausemel, lost their lives due to a car accident. Each year, the Adam Gausemel Scholarship is given to one or more graduating CHS seniors, male or female, who played soccer and embody Adam’s spirit. The CHSF Danny Imhoff Memorial Scholarship is given to a graduating senior, male or female, who has displayed special qualities and a positive attitude, and who plans to attend college in the fall.

CHS FOUNDATION Agriculture Department Endowment

The CHSF Agriculture Department Endowment funds Future Farmers of America (FFA) activities, including, as a first priority, sending students to the FFA conventions.

CHS FOUNDATION Baseball Facilities Improvement Fund

The CHSF Baseball Facilities Improvement Fund is used for the long-term maintenance and improvements of Chico High’s baseball fields.

CHS FOUNDATION Baseball Scholarship Fund

The CHSF Baseball Scholarship Fund is directed toward scholarships for graduating seniors who have played baseball for Chico High and will be attending college.

CHS FOUNDATION Bertagna Family Charitable Fund

The Bertagna Family Charitable Fund was established in honor of Bernardo Bertagna, the late father of Ben, Andy, and Nick Bertagna, all of whom went through the Chico High FFA and agriculture department. The Bertagna Family Charitable Scholarship is a $500 award given to an agriculture student each year.

CHS FOUNDATION Centennial Endowment Fund

In 2001, CHS celebrated its 100th anniversary with a community parade, a month-long museum display, and a dinner and dance. The monies raised from the Centennial events, totaling $27,000, were endowed with NVCF for the express purpose of providing teachers at CHS with monies to improve the learning experiences of their students. Teachers submit grant applications on an annual basis to the CHSF Board. After a committee reviews and ranks the applications, the CHSF Board approves a selected number of grant applications for monetary awards on an annual basis.

CHS FOUNDATION CHAMP

The Chico High Academic Mentoring Program (CHAMP) builds connections between adult volunteer mentors and students who are struggling academically and looking into various career options.

CHS FOUNDATION Class of 1961 Charitable Fund

The class of 1961 graduated at a transitional time in Chico High’s history. It was one of the last classes to enjoy the main Chico High building that had stood since 1920. The class of 1961, made up of 405 students, has created this fund to give back to the school that meant so much to them. The Class of 1961 Charitable Fund is directed toward scholarships that will encourage students interested in the visual and performing arts.

CHS FOUNDATION Claudia Williamson-Steel Endowment Fund

In 2008, local artist Claudia Williamson-Steel, who was raised in Chico and who studied art at UC Berkeley and Mills College, established this fund with her donation of $10,000. Interest monies are used to purchase instructional materials and equipment for the art department.

CHS FOUNDATION Donald and Esther Jewett Endowment Fund

This fund uses monies to purchase instructional materials that assist students in special programs.

CHS FOUNDATION Donald Hayes Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund

Donald Hayes was an active FFA member and an outstanding Ag Mechanics student. After his untimely death, the Agriculture Department and his family wished to honor his memory and reward standout students in the area of Ag Mechanics. The CHSF Donald Hayes Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund is directed toward a $100 award given to an agricultural mechanics student based on his or her projects, work ethic, and attitude.

CHS FOUNDATION Dorothy Ramon Award Endowment Fund

The CHSF Dorothy Ramon Award is given to a graduating senior who plans to major in Spanish in college.

CHS FOUNDATION Engineering/Mathematics Scholarship Fund

This fund, established by an anonymous donor, is directed toward a yearly scholarship of $6000 per year for two years, preferably for a female student entering California State University, Chico in engineering or math.

CHS FOUNDATION General Fund

The CHSF General Fund is managed by the CHSF board of directors and is used to pay for operational expenses, including the annual alumni dinner, the CHSF newsletter, advertising, and postage.

CHS FOUNDATION Harry A. Merlo Scholarship Fund

Harry A. Merlo is the former CEO of Louisiana Pacific Corporation and the first person selected for the CHS Alumnus of the Year award. The CHSF Harry A. Merlo Scholarship is a $500 award given to a graduating senior who has studied agriculture, been active in FFA, overcome struggles in his or her life, and is planning on attending a two-year or four-year college or university.

CHS FOUNDATION Holly Barnett Memorial Scholarship Fund

Holly Day Barnett graduated from Chico High in 1993 and from UC Santa Cruz in 1997. Holly played volleyball and studied science throughout high school and college, earning a degree in Geological and Earth Sciences and working for the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey in Sacramento. In early 1999, Holly died of cancer and the CHSF Holly Barnett Memorial Scholarship was established to commemorate her hearty enjoyment of life and love of company, athletics, and science. The CHSF Holly Barnett Memorial Scholarship is a $500 award given to a graduating Chico High girl who has participated in athletics and taken a science course, and who intends to continue to explore these interests at the college level. The scholarship is intended as a reward for past achievement in these areas and as an incentive for future achievement.

CHS FOUNDATION Jaime Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund

During his time at Chico High, Jaime Walker was involved in soccer and track as well as with student government, becoming the president of his sophomore class. The CHSF Jaime Walker Memorial Scholarship is a $500 award given to a student who has participated in track or soccer.

CHS FOUNDATION Marge and Dick Maddux Science Scholarship Fund

Marge and Dick Maddux, both alumni of Chico High, created this fund to encourage students to pursue science-related careers. Marge is a former pharmacist while Dick is a former Chico High chemistry teacher and department chairperson. This scholarship is given each year to a graduating senior whose performance in science has been outstanding and who plans to study science in college.

Read More about Marge and Dick Maddux in our yearbook!

CHS FOUNDATION Mike Sherrard Scholar-Athlete Fund

Mike Sherrard, Chico High alumnus and former professional football player, created this fund to benefit a high school senior athlete planning to play a college sport(s). The CHSF Mike Sherrard Scholar-Athlete Award is a $1000 award given to a graduating senior athlete who has lettered in varsity sports (two in the senior year and one in the junior year), earned at last a 3.0 GPA, and demonstrates a record of good citizenship.

CHS FOUNDATION Patricia Wismer Charitable Fund

Patricia Wismer is a former English, drama, and photography teacher at Chico High. In 2008, she established a $10,000 endowment for the purpose of supporting the instructional material needs of Chico High’s English department.

CHS FOUNDATION Press Powell Memorial Scholarship Fund

Press Powell was a vocational agriculture teacher and a private business owner. A supporting member of the FFA Parent Booster Club at CHS, he believed in the FFA organization and its support of youth. The CHSF Press Powell Memorial Scholarship is a $500 award given to an agriculture student who is going to a tech school or college or who is starting a business.

CHS FOUNDATION Roger Williams Theatre Endowment Fund

The Roger Williams Theatre Endowment Fund is named for the principal of Chico High from (1980-2003) and the founder and first president of the CHSF. This fund provides monies to purchase materials, supplies, and equipment for the theatre program, which is based in Roger Williams Theatre.

CHS FOUNDATION Spirit of ’96 Scholarship Fund

Members of the class of 1996 and their families established the Spirit of ’96 Scholarship. It is to be awarded to a graduating male and female scholar-athlete that displays values of team spirit, school, hard work, friends, and lifelong growth.

CHS FOUNDATION Staff-Supported Scholarship Endowment

CHS staff members contribute monthly or annually to a scholarship fund. As a result of their contributions, a $500 scholarship is awarded each year to a deserving student.

CHS FOUNDATION Tom Alldredge Memorial Scholarship

The CHSF Tom Alldredge Memorial Scholarship is a $100 award given to an FFA high-point winner at Chico High.