Philanthropy
Scholarships
SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE FOUNDATION LORELEI SHELLIST ENDOWMENT TO THE ARTS
This endowed fund was originally created by Lorelei Shellist, family, and friends, in honor of her parents Bernie and Rita Shellist, lifelong professional musicians from the “Big Band” era. Bernie was the lead trombonist with the Mesa College performance groups for over 25 years and played lead trombone in three different orchestras right up until his passing at 90 years old. He played and toured the US with the Mart Kenney and His Western Gentlemen Orchestra from Canada in the 1940’s and 1950’s, sponsored by Coca Cola through the depression. Rita Lillian Jones was a vocalist, who started as a soprano in the church choir. Bernie coached her and developed her range to encompass and include Jazz and Big Band lead singer styles. The two of them married and shared the love of music until the end of their days. In September, 2015 the focus of the scholarship was increased to support students in the Fashion Program. The scholarships will be applied toward tuition and books, half the scholarship available in Fall Semester, and the remainder in Spring Semester.
Please support the Music and/or Fashion scholarships at San Diego Mesa College!
Shellist “Music” Scholarship
The Bernie and Rita Shellist Music Endowed Scholarship is for a student whose goal is to become a professional musician. The ideal candidate will be passionate about music, and have Music Studies as a declared major, or earning a Certificate of Performance in Music Composition, Music Technology or Music Theory. To be eligible for a scholarship a student must:
- Have a financial need, defined through an essay describing their financial need
- Be enrolled in at least 6 units the Spring Semester when applying for the scholarship
- Have completed at least 9 units at Mesa, with a GPA of 3.0, and enroll in at least 6 units at Mesa in the following Fall and Spring Semesters
- To receive the scholarship for Spring Semester, the student must earn at least a 3.0 GPA and have successfully completed 6 units in Fall Semester.
- Have an education plan in place
- Provide 2 recommendations from faculty from the Music Program
- A committee lead by Lorelei Shellist will pick the recipient of the scholarship.
Shellist “Fashion Design” Scholarship
The Lorelei Shellist Runway Runaway Collection® Fashion Design Endowed Scholarship provide scholarships for students in the Fashion Program. To be eligible for a scholarship a student must:
- Have a financial need, defined through an essay describing their financial need
- Be enrolled in at least 6 units the Spring Semester when applying for the scholarship
- Have completed at least 9 units at Mesa, with a GPA of 3.0, and enroll in at least 6 units at Mesa in the following Fall and Spring Semesters
- To receive the scholarship for Spring Semester, the student must earn at least a 3.0 GPA and have successfully completed 6 units in Fall Semester.
- Have an education plan in place
- Provide 2 recommendations from faculty from the Fashion Program
- A committee lead by Lorelei Shellist will pick the recipient of the scholarship.
Teen Esteem
Teen Esteem | I Am Dreams With Wings
What is I Am Dreams With Wings?
Educational workshops teaching teen esteem in Continuation High Schools where students get school credits for this elective class.
Who we are
We are graduates of the Masters’ programs in “Spiritual Psychology” and “Consciousness, Health & Healing” from the University of Santa Monica (USM)
As heart centered facilitators, our mission is to share our own teen-age/life experiences and learnings with At-Risk Teens in service to helping them grow in to conscious, mature young adults who make responsible choices.
What we do
Our teen esteem programs educate our Teens by teaching them critical LIFE Skills: Communication Skills, Self Empowerment Skills, Job Interview Skills and how to WIN in their own heart’s desires as they plan their own lives, thus giving Wings to their Dreams.
Why?
Because we can and because we care.
Teens today are at Risk of: Peer Pressure, Gang Pressure, Low Self-Esteem, Lack of Guidance, Healthy Role Models and so much more.
