PASADENA, Texas – The Second Annual San Jacinto College Foundation Fashion Gems Fashion Show, held Saturday, March 1, 2008, at the Bay Oaks Country Club, was a roaring success, netting over $15,000 for student scholarships.

KPRC Local 2 anchor Courtney Zavala (left) is pictured with Francis Rios, a 2007 recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from the San Jacinto College Foundation.

The luncheon and fashion show featured live music from Ivan Acuna and Guillermo Serpas, music students at San Jacinto College South; a live and silent auction; a giveaway of a diamond and ruby ring donated by Lewis Jewelers; and a fashion show, emceed by KPRC Local 2 anchor Courtney Zavala. Dillard’s at Baybrook Mall provided the clothes for the fashion show. Co-chairs for the event were Liz Webb, owner of Hair Palace in Deer Park, and wife of Foundation Board Chairman Wayne Webb, and Ann Bobbitt, Foundation Board Member.

“Money from this event goes directly to the students of San Jacinto College through scholarships,” noted the Foundation’s assistant director, Nancy Thacker. “Proceeds from last year’s event provided $1,000 scholarships to 12 students, so we are very excited the number will increase to 15 students this year.”

During opening remarks, Webb and Dr. Bill Lindemann, San Jacinto College Chancellor, recognized one of last year’s scholarship recipients, Francis Rios. A single mom of a one-year-old son, Rios was forced out of her home unexpectedly, and wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to register and attend class during the Fall 2007 semester.

“I received my award letter later than others,sod I didn’t think I had received the scholarship. At that time I didn’t know what I was going to do or if I was going to be able to attend school,” said Rios. “But when the letter arrived in the mail, I was so excited. It came at a great time.”

A sophomore art education major at the College’s North campus, Rios is currently using the scholarship money for classes and supplies.

Scholarship applications for Fall 2008 will be reviewed later this Spring. Fifteen $1,000 scholarships will be awarded, $500 for the Fall 2008 semester and $500 for the Spring 2009 semester. Thacker added, “As the event continues to grow, so will the number of scholarships provided.”

Major sponsors for the event included SJC Foundation board member Jackie Powell; Liz Webb; Hollie Hale, Attorney at Law; MECO; San Jacinto Harley Davidson; Rohm & Haas Texas; Certified Safety Specialists; AT&T; Lubrizol Corporation; and, Daniel J. Snooks, Attorney at Law.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, or visit http://www.sanjac.edu/.