At the annual dinner in May, your Association awards scholarships to graduate students attending Northern California universities. It has been our objective to increase the amount every year, given the increasing costs of graduate education. Thanks to your help we have been able to accomplish this goal. A brief discussion of their outstanding research is linked to many names.

The need for additional support of graduate students continues to increase. One need only look at the cost of rental housing in Berkeley and Palo Alto to appreciate this. In addition, many university and other financial aid programs have been cut back or run out as a doctoral candidate approaches the end of his or her program. That, of course, is the point at which, for many, the need becomes greatest. We estimate that our current award amounts to roughly 20% of the cost of one year of graduate education in this area.

This is where you, as members of this Association, have been of so much help. We thank you sincerely for your past support and must ask for even more this year to bring this program to its full potential. You support this program by renewing (or initiating) your membership and attending events. You help even more by making an additional contribution to the scholarship program. Every year, an increasing percentage of our membership has been doing that. As you read about the students, please consider making or increasing that contribution this year.

Perhaps you would consider making a major contribution to our Scholarship fund:

For example, in appreciation of the generous bequest received by Phi Beta Kappa Northern California Association, on November 14, 1992, the Association Board established the Elizabeth B. Reed Scholarship which funds one student every year. In selecting the recipient of this prestigious award, we try to relate to the interests and research to Ms. Reed.

In the year 2000, Albert and Grace Glatze of Oakland donated funds to underwrite a full graduate-student scholarship for that year.

Beginning in 2003, Burt Norall has fully funded one of our scholarships each year with an exceptionally generous donation. Burt makes the donation to honor his wife, Maria, PBK NCA's dedicated Recording Secretary, and to return the kindness of a couple from his Northern California hometown whose financial aid made it possible for him to attend college at UC Berkeley after he graduated from high school.

Wouldn't you like to see your name, or that of a loved one, on one of our scholarships? Please

 On to the Awardees...