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- Written by: Editor
Members of the Mendocino College Foundation and the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire Department gather to celebrate the First Responder Perpetual Scholarship. Courtesy photo.
NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Mendocino College Foundation has signed a perpetual scholarship agreement with the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire Department Volunteers, or RVCFD, a 501c3 organization.
The RVCFD Volunteers’ $25,000 investment will enable the Foundation to award a $1,000 scholarship annually in perpetuity to a Mendocino College student preparing for a career as a first responder.
“This award represents not only our commitment to fostering the next generation of firefighters but also our admiration for individuals who demonstrate resilience, determination and passion for serving their community,” said Battalion Chief Justin Ebert.
RVCFD Lt. Megan Turner Brown said the idea for establishing a scholarship with Mendocino College came about at the end of the 2024 school year, when she was asked to be a guest proctor for students in Ukiah High School's first responder Career Technical Education program.
“Instructor Brendan Turner is a former RVCFD assistant chief and my brother. I was tasked with overseeing one of the hands-on portions of their final, the scenario included a comprehensive trauma assessment. I was in awe of some of these students, they had clearly found their purpose. Many of these students shared with me that they planned on enrolling in Mendocino College Fire Science and EMS Programs after graduation,” said Turner Brown.
“I have been a first responder for more than half of my life and when I interact with young people exploring the idea of pursuing a job or volunteer opportunity as a first responder, it reminds me of how exciting it was to find something that you absolutely love,” Turner Brown said. “After my observations at UHS, I proposed that our organization look into creating a scholarship.”
RVCFD Firefighter Trevor Mockel, himself a former scholarship recipient during his time as a Mendocino College student, reached out to Foundation Executive Director Julie McGovern for more information.
Initially, RVCFD planned on establishing an annual pass-through scholarship. However, “Our fear with an annual scholarship was that it be forgotten over time, but a perpetual scholarship would establish a legacy for current members and all those that came before us,” Turner Brown explained. “RVCFD has a long history of encouraging, educating and nurturing young first responders and to be able to assist them financially is an amazing opportunity.”
The RVCFD Volunteers created a scholarship committee and decided to solicit donations from the community to raise the money for a perpetual scholarship. The support was overwhelming and within a couple months, they had received more than $9,000 in donations.
In January 2025, the RVCFD Volunteers decided to contribute the remaining funds to reach the $25,000 goal. The establishment of this perpetual scholarship coincides with the 30th anniversary of the RVCFD Explorer Program.
Turner Brown added, “We decided to reach out to the Foundation and support students attending Mendocino College because we are so fortunate to have a local college with so many courses focused on first responders.”
The inaugural recipient of the RVCFD Scholarship is Alex Stoughton, currently a senior at Potter Valley High School who plans to attend Mendocino College and work towards his EMT certifications and an associates degree, preferably in fire science. Stoughton’s experience volunteering for the Potter Valley Fire Department has inspired him to pursue a career as a firefighter.
“This year’s recipient, Alex Stoughton, has shown remarkable perseverance in the face of significant personal challenges,” said Ebert. “Despite the obstacles he has encountered, his unwavering dedication to his dream of becoming a firefighter has inspired all of us. His story is a testament to the power of hard work, courage, and community support.”
Ebert added, "Supporting our youth is one of the greatest investments we can make. We are honored to stand behind Alex as he takes this important step toward a career of service, bravery and purpose."
The scholarship will assist Alex with his education and training expenses as he begins his studies in the fire service field.
“It is our hope that this support will help him achieve his goal and one day join the ranks of those who dedicate their lives to protecting others,” Ebert added. “We congratulate Alex and look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish in the years to come.”
The Mendocino College Foundation’s vision is to be a major force in helping students turn their hopes and dreams into realities. Partnerships with organizations like the RVCFD Volunteers and their investment in supporting the first responders of tomorrow turns the vision into action and directly benefits students while making our communities stronger.
For more information on establishing a perpetual scholarship with the foundation, either to support a certain program or in memory of a loved one, contact Julie McGovern at 707-468-3164 or
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- Written by: Editor
Pictured are Elliott Black-Holcroft, Christopher Palchak, Rep. Thompson, Blake Fuchslin and Soren DeYoung. Not pictured: John Paul Baker. Courtesy photo.
Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced he nominated five local students who have since accepted offers to our nation's military service academies, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
These prestigious appointments follow a highly competitive, months-long process led by Rep. Thompson’s office, which includes a comprehensive application, academic and personal evaluations, panel interviews, and final selection by the academies themselves.
"Each year, it’s a privilege to support the remarkable young individuals from our district who are selected to attend our nation’s prestigious military service academies,” said Rep. Thompson. “These appointments are reserved for those who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, a strong commitment to community service, and excellence beyond the classroom. This year’s appointees have earned this honor through their hard work and dedication, and I extend my sincere congratulations to them on behalf of our entire district."
Each year, local candidates are interviewed for a nomination to our nation's service academies. Those nominated then must be offered an appointment by the academies. Appointees from the Fourth Congressional District were honored at a ceremony at St. Supery Winery in Rutherford. Biographies for each student are included below.
For the U.S. Military Academy at West Point:
Christopher Palchak, Davis
Palchak attends Jesuit High School in Sacramento and has been on honor roll for all semesters of high school. He holds a GPA of 4.5. He is on the track and field throws team and was both junior varsity and varsity captain. He has volunteered with Davis Community Meals since 2021. He is a member of 4H, raised goats and swine, and is a member of the Yolo Sportsman’s Association rifle team. He is inspired by his siblings; his sister is a 2024 graduate and has 3 siblings currently at the United States Military Academy.
Elliott Black-Holcroft, Davis
Black-Holcroft currently attends Los Rios Community College and attended Davis Senior High School and graduated with a 3.8 GPA. He is enrolled in ROTC through CSU Sacramento. He was on the varsity water polo team, and on the swimming team. He participated in the Davis Teen Leadership Council in 2023. He is inspired by his grandfather, a Vietnam Veteran and a professor at WestPoint.
For the U.S. Air Force Academy:
John Paul Baker, Woodland
Baker attends Davis Senior High School. He has been on the varsity track (2022 and 2023) and football (2024) teams, as well as junior varsity basketball team (2023). He holds a GPA of 4.0 and was a recipient of the National African American Recognition Award in August of 2023, and was accepted into the United States Naval Academy and United States Military Academy Summer Leadership Camp. He spends his time volunteering at his local soup kitchen, and volunteering with his church. His brother also graduated from the United States Naval Academy.
Soren De Young, Napa
De Young attends Vintage High School. He is ranked 24th in his class of 400. He is inspired by a long history of family service dating to his great-grandfather who served in World War II. He is a triple-sport athlete, playing on his high school baseball, wrestling, and cross-country teams. He is involved with Boy Scouts of America, including community service through this organization. He has his Federal Aviation Administration student pilot license and is certified in CPR and First Aid.
Blake Fuchslin, Dixon
Fuchslin attends Davis Senior High School. He holds a GPA of 4.6 and ranks in the Top 30 of 650 students. He played varsity water polo and swim and lettered all three years. He was awarded the President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence award and USA Water Polo’s Outstanding Academic All-American in 2022. He is involved with Davis Community Club and Davis Empower Youth, including community service through both.
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UKIAH, Calif. — Mendocino College agricultural students have been gaining hands-on ecological restoration skills at the college's new emergency access road in Ukiah.
The mile-long access road, completed last year in collaboration with Granite Construction and the Mendocino College Foundation, was a resiliency project to provide secondary egress in and out of campus in case of emergency.
As a condition of federal and state construction permits, the college is required to plant and maintain over 30,000 native grasses, shrubs and trees. These plantings will help both re-establish and increase wetland areas and habitat that were disturbed by construction activities.
Mendocino College Agricultural Studies Professor Kurt Voigt and Director of Facilities Planning, Operations & Sustainability MacAdam Lojowsky saw an opportunity for collaboration.
Students have helped dig holes, plant the grasses and shrubs, and learn about restoring habitats that have been affected by construction activities.
"I saw 30,000 plants that needed to get irrigated and put in the ground before April and knew we needed help," said Lojowsky. "I asked Kurt if he thought his students would be interested in being a part of it. His immediate answer was 'absolutely!'"
With the remediation consulting by Ukiah-based North Coast Regional Management, Mendocino College maintenance and grounds staff laid thousands of feet of irrigation to ensure that these plants establish and survive.
Agriculture students had the opportunity to learn about large-scale irrigation design and different strategies to water this vast number of plants. In addition to specific planting specifications, many of the shrubs and trees also need protective cages to assist in their establishment. All of these aspects were incorporated in this living lab lesson.
Working under the directives of actual permits provides students with valuable lessons, explained Professor Voigt, "It's great real-world experience on a professional jobsite to be able to work with other students on a common goal. And, it's doing something good for the school. It's hard work- being out there, digging holes, but the students had a lot of fun, I had a lot of fun today."
Once all 31,905 grasses, shrubs and trees are in the ground, Mendocino College will need to prepare and submit annual reports each year for the next five years with an identified survival threshold of 80% of the plants.
Both Voigt and Lojowsky see opportunities for future collaboration on this project.
Voigt said, "At the end of the day today, the students were asking when we'd be going back out to do more."
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that they have sent a letter to county and district superintendents, charter school administrators and high school principals to remind them of graduates’ rights to wear tribal regalia.
Students are allowed to wear “traditional tribal regalia or recognized objects of cultural or religious significance as an adornment at school graduation ceremonies” pursuant to California Education Code section 35183.1(emphasis added).
Per section 35183.1, a local education agency such as a school district, county office of education or charter school, retains discretion and authority to prohibit such an item only if the item “is likely to cause a substantial disruption of, or material interference with, the ceremony.”
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“Graduations are among the most memorable of life events — not only for the graduate, but for his or her entire family. These special moments are also an opportunity for students to celebrate their culture, and Superintendent Thurmond and I are reminding school administrators of their obligation to allow tribal regalia to be worn,” said Attorney General Bonta. “California is home to the largest Native population in the country. We wholeheartedly embrace our diversity, and this serves as another example of that commitment.”
“Graduation is a major milestone in the lives of our students. This celebration is an opportunity to not only recognize their academic achievements but also to preserve and uplift our students’ heritage,” said Superintendent Tony Thurmond. "As we celebrate, I urge all educators to implement policies that embrace culturally inclusive ceremonies and preserve the rights of Native students. Many will showcase their cultural pride and celebrate their heritage by wearing cultural and traditional attire — and they are allowed to do so by law.”
In their letter, Attorney General Bonta and Superintendent Thurmond encourage the school administrators to take the time to further review Education Code section 35183.1 in its entirety as well as local policies and explore opportunities for students to honor their heritage, which is crucial for creating an inclusive and supportive environment.
In addition, Attorney General Bonta and Superintendent Thurmond recommend engaging with local tribal leaders and American Indian communities to gain a deeper understanding of their traditions and values.