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“Our Major Goal:
Supporting Students First”

Supporting students first comes naturally to Berna Dallons of Paso Robles, respected community leader, retired educator and president of the Cuesta College Foundation Board of Directors.  She chaired the Campaign for the North County Campus and rallied 200 volunteers who raised more than $2,000,000 to purchase land and develop a temporary campus in just two years. “I know of no other college campus that has
been built by the community it serves,” said Berna who together with her husband John contributed nearly $300,000 to the project. That year, Berna was honored as one of 10 outstanding philanthropists in the U.S. with an award given for philanthropy, leadership and service to community colleges.

Reflecting on her service as President of the Board, Berna said, “I am overwhelmed and overjoyed at the work of the Foundation Board of Directors and its ability to capture the hearts of donors throughout San Luis Obispo County.  Cuesta College is a good place for charitable contributions since we are able to make such a tremendous difference in so many lives and because we are an important community resource that gives as well as receives.”

A few highlights this year include:

• $234,880 in gifts to the college from Board members in an overall total that raised $2.2 million for Cuesta College
• $1.2 million raised toward a $3.4 million goal for the college’s major capital priorities
• $447,684 in donor directed gifts, restricted to the needs of departments and programs
• $205,783 added to the endowed fund and six newly endowed accounts this year
• The installation and dedication of the Sargen Fitness Zone, developed and funded entirely by Avila Beach residents Jim and Joan Sargen as an outdoor fitness area for students and community
• The distribution of hundreds of scholarships and another group of awards such as the Novy History Scholar Award, the Helen Novy Award, the “Tony” Sprague awards in journalism, the Marianne Michels College for Kids scholarships and the faculty grants, the Diffley Award for Faculty Excellence, the Teaching and Service Excellence Awards and the J. Vard Loomis Award for Distinguished Board service
• Gifting an additional $100,000 to purchase critically needed equipment for Cuesta’s classrooms and laboratories in a year when the State budget did not include equipment money for colleges
• Grants totaling $44,500 were received from Pacific Gas and Electric, Duke Energy,
  San Luis Obispo Community Foundation, and the Glikbarg Foundation for Workforce Development, President’s Motivational Fund, Science Programs, and for Community-based ESL 

“Cuesta’s ‘Bridge to Success’ graduation was the highlight of my year,” adds Berna.  This innovative program offers a ‘hand up’ for at-risk high school students and is considered one of Cuesta College’s most effective outreach programs. Berna smiles and recalls, “At graduation you see newly found confidence on the faces of these students, and a knowing look that there is a place for them at Cuesta College, and a new reality is born.”