Minerva Club of Santa Maria
Est. 1894
Minerva Clubhouse
Designed by Julia Morgan - built in 1928
Minerva Club Scholarship Trust Fund, Inc
Minerva Club Trust Fund
2026 Scholarship Application
The completed application is due no later than 3:00 p.m.,
March 13, 2026 to your scholarship advisor’s office or mail to:
Minerva Club Scholarship
P.O. Box 881
Santa Maria, CA 93456
MUST BE POSTMARKED BY March 13, 2026, if mailed.
Over the years, the membership was able to increase the amount and number of scholarships given. The Scholarship Trust Fund was established in 1981. By 1983, about $45,000 had been awarded. In 1999, the Club received a bequest of $250,000 from the Maxine and Burns Rick estate for scholarships and shortly after, the Trust Fund was incorporated. The Minerva Club has awarded more than $435,135. in scholarships since the 1950s.
Scholarships given by the Minerva Club had their beginnings in 1917 when the entire senior class of Santa Maria High School was entertained at the home of Mrs. Goodwin. A few years later, the Minerva Club began the tradition of inviting all the Honor Students to a luncheon. In 1952, a scholarship fund was begun with the profits of their cookbook, Company's Coming. The first Minerva Club scholarship of $535.00 was presented to Marilyn May.
2025-2026 Scholarship Board
Board of Directors:
President: Lisa Wesner
Secretary: Karen Dally
Treasure: Karen Draper
Trustees:
Trustee 2nd Year: Karen Draper
Trustee 2nd Year: Leslie Mosson
Trustee 1st Year: Vonda Damore
Trustee 1st Year: Shelley Klein
The 2024-2025 Minerva Club Scholarship Awards Ceremony
was held on May 4, 2025 at the Minerva Clubhouse.
Brad Dandridge, SM Fire Chief, gave an inspirational speech to the recipients.
Students were recognized by their school counselors and awarded
a $1,300 scholarship from the Minerva Scholarship committee.
Congratulations recipients!
PHOTO OF RECIPIENTS FOR 2024-2025
Delta High School:
Isaiah Garcia ($650), Sara Evangelista ($650)
Earnest Righetti High School:
Samantha McDonald, Casey Orion Knepp, Dominic Sousa
Orcutt Academy:
Anna Damore
Pioneer Valley High School:
Uriel Mariscal, Verenice Morales Ortiz, Maria Serna Rubalcava
St. Joseph's High School:
Cooper Smith
Santa Maria High School:
Christian Alexander Blanco, Amy Nova Garcia, Kayce Van Horn
Valley Christian Academy:
Samuel Sassenberg
Minerva Club
127 W. Boone St.
Santa Maria, CA 93458
P.O. Box 881
Santa Maria, CA 93456-0881
Rental Information
The Clubhouse is available to rent.
CLICK on Rental Information at top of page for details.